Harris & Harris Ltd is a third-party debt collection agency based in Chicago. H&H has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including improper contact or sharing of information and threatening to take actions that cannot legally be taken. If you have been contacted by this debt collector, make sure you understand your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Harris & Harris, Ltd was established in 1968 and incorporated in 1977. The BBB established a profile page for H&H in June 2015, and it has been a BBB-accredited business since 2018. The BBB lists Harris & Harris as a collection agency.
If you’ve suffered from H&H debt harassment, you do have options. Under the law, you can recover up to $1,000 for violations of the FDCPA, and $500 to $1,500 for each cell phone robocall.
Harris & Harris employs countless debt collectors to collect healthcare, government, and utility debt. They provide skip tracing services as part of the collections process and as a standalone company, meaning that firms can use their skip tracing services without using Harris and Harris to actually collect money. According to their website, they even claim to keep a list of affiliate attorneys who will file lawsuits against customers.
Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of collection harassment and abuse. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. We’ve helped more than 15,000 consumers stop harassment and recover money from debt collectors. Harassed? Abused? Misled by a collector? Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
As of April 2017, the Better Business Bureau reported 104 closed Harris & Harris complaints over the previous three years, including 30 closed H&H complaints over the previous 12 months. The BBB gave H&H A+ rating. Additionally, Justia listed 16 complaints filed in federal court in the previous year alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, one alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and two alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Moreover, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) listed 93 closed complaints in 2016.
Harris & Harris, Ltd.
111 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone Number: 800-362-0097
Website: http://www.harriscollect.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely Harris and Harris would sue you for a debt you may not owe or they cannot validate. However, debt collection agencies are known to have summoned debtors to court and garnish wages after a default judgment. Contacting an attorney BEFORE this could possibly happen would be a smart move. We’ve helped thousands of consumers fight back against unscrupulous debt collection harassers. Find out if we can help you too today!
Get Free BBB A+ Attorney. Call 844-685-9200 NOW
Unlawful Debt Harassment? Learn the Law & Sue the Collector.
Absolutely. You can sue a debt collector. Here is a Sample Case Filed in Federal Court:
In 2017, a judge in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, denied H&H’s motion to dismiss Cuenca vs. Harris & Harris for alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. According to the judge’s decision, the customer alleged that H&H had sent her a letter regarding medical bills that said, in part, “If this debt isn’t paid, our customer(s) may exercise their respective choices to enforce collection. At this time, the decision remains yours … please respond accordingly.” She thought the lender was going to sue her, even though it does not sue customers for medical debts. The judge rejected Harris & Harris’ argument that the wording was not a threat of a lawsuit, stating that the legal standard was whether or not the “least sophisticated” consumer would interpret it as a threat. The judge ruled that the customer had a plausible claim, and allowed the lawsuit to proceed.
Federal laws protect you. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates the behavior of collection agencies by prohibiting actions such as the use of abusive or threatening language; harassment; or the use of false or misleading information to collect a debt. The FCRA regulates how collection agencies and creditors report delinquent debts to credit reporting agencies. Additional consumer protection laws include the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).
Consumers have reported this agency harassing them from the following numbers:
Yes. If you want to enforce your rights, or recover money for violations — you need to sue. Federal laws provide individuals like you with a means to seek monetary damages in court. For example, the FDCPA allows consumers who have been violated to recover damages of up to $1,000, plus attorney fees and court costs.
You may have a case, if…
“I never thought I’d finally be free of the nonstop phone calls and letters in the mail, but I finally am free. You went to work straight away, and I saw results fairly quickly. I felt like you really cared about getting me the relief I longed for. I can not thank you enough.”
“When I first emailed the office, I was not exactly sure what they could do for me. I had an idea, but they responded back with what I could expect to take place. I never believed I would be receiving a check, it was definitely a silver lining. They always had great communication. I highly recommend them to anyone seeking consumer legal services.”
“A belated thanks for your company. I still get an occasional call but when I ask them to stop, they stop. Hopefully, sometime in the future, all of the collection agencies will close down. The peace from the constant calls is refreshing.”
“Prior to contacting you, we had tried repeatedly to handle this matter without threatening litigation. In the end, not only were they unapologetic, but they were dismissive – even of an attorney friend who called on our behalf. Sincerest thanks for resolving this matter for us!”
The brief answer is yes. We can help. Call us today.
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Have you had a bad experience with this agency’s debt collectors? Sound off and share your experience with other visitors in the comment box below.
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
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Harris and Harris call me 36 times a week even on weekends tried calling back no one answers. I want the harassing to stop this is insane.. please help
Harris and Harris keeps calling me saying there is a civil lawsuit case pending against me and they haven’t disclosed what I’m being sued for. They keep leaving messages that I need to take immediate action. I checked with the county clerk and there are no pending lawsuits. I think I am being spammed and they are trying to scam me
These Harris and Harris people started calling me out of the blue everyday this week. Their messages are very vague and I don’t know what supposed debt they are calling about. Don’t they have to send a letter to you in the mail stating the debt validation details? I’m not speaking with them until I get a letter of some sort. I have no idea what they are calling about.
They legit won’t leave me alone over a medical bill that they can’t proved an itemized bill for. I requested them to send an itemized bill to me and then I would pay but it’s been months of them calling me multiple times a day and yet I haven’t received a bill in the mail even though they claim to have sent one. When I asked them to resend it because it could have gotten lost in the mail they hung up on me. I’m willing to pay a bill that I owe but they can’t even provide me with it. What do I do to get these bottom feeders to leave me alone
Harris and Harris keep calling at least 3 to 4 times a week and I am sick of those stupid, nasty people. I do not owe anything, and I am sick of those phone calls from them. They call early in the morning and I am not answering their calls, period! I am done with them!!!!
They reported collection on my credit. I set up to make 4 monthly payments on the 20th of the month. They reported my account was in collection Dec. 9 and payment was to be on Dec. 20. I spoke to a rep in November to update my HSA card number and asked her if they were going to report this account to credit bureaus because in Sept. a rep told me
that if payments were not made that it would be. Lilly the rep I spoke to in November assured me that it would not be reported.
I have an outstanding ticket with an attached warrant which because I couldn’t pay ended in collextions with Harris & Harris. I tried calling them when I found about my situation told them that I wasn’t working(which for obvious reasons in the world I’m still not working)and I couldn’t pay. What could be done with my outstanding ticket/warrant and they told me tough luck you need to pay it. I am at my wits end. I’m not working, I didn’t qualifu fie the stimulus check and I still can’t find work. I need this resolved so I acn get work. The warrant alone is stopping me. For obvious reasons I have no money. So please can you help me. Thank you.
Harris & Harris sent me a letter stating I need to call their office to take advantage of payment arrangements to avoid further consequences. I have been trying to prove for years someone stole my identity I even pressed charges on the person in another county but I have to pay these debts caused by someone else using my name.
The Harris and Harris are very crude nasty set of people and evil. They were quick to collect money from me by treats but refused to give me a receipt of payment. They are useless set of bastards
They dont deserve any star if l have my way.
They are lazy group of thieves that call themself collection agency.
Harris & Harris is one of a sequence of collection agencies that call frequently. When I call them back, they tell me that they cannot find me in their system. They offer to remove my phone number from their system. A few days after they supposedly removed me from their system, the calls resume. I cannot imagine what overdue bill they might be referring to. I do not think that I have any unpaid bills.
These moron’s keep calling and sending us letters demanding a payment for a utility bill at an address we have NEVER lived at. Additionally they don’t have have my middle initial they have used an M my middle name starts with an R. I have called them and even sent them letters telling them to knock it off but they keep at it. The last dip I spoke with was upset that I opened the envelope and said that since it was not addressed to me, I was violating federal law by opening someone else’s mail. I said then if you know I’m the wrong guy, why do you keep sending this crap to me? He didn’t have an answer.
Yvette
Do I have to give them my personal info in order to get the information about why I am receiving a call from them and who they even are other than a firm as he claimed. They needed my birthday in order to tell me what kind of firm they were
Do I have to give them my personal info in order to get the information about why I am receiving a call from them and who they even are other than a firm as he claimed. They needed my birthday in order to tell me what kind of firm they were.
Do I have to give them my personal info in order to get the information about why I am receiving a call from them and who they even are other than a firm as he claimed. They needed my birthday in order to tell me what kind of firm they were.
In 2012 I got a Wll County court fine for 120.00. Foolishly I completely forgot and today I received a letter from Harris and Harris for a debt of 1200.00. The H&H representative said I had 5 days to speak with the court and a lawyer. Can they really raise the amount to 1200.00?
I need pay $74.00 bad credit
My name is Cheryl limeberry wise and I have been receiving multiple calls and letters from Harris and Harris although I told them that I did not go to emergency room on date stated. Please help.
i been tryin to get a prove that harris and harris is bin taking 200every pay day as a par of our arragment and im trying to get probe of that but they dont expessed deny but they never probide it to me. avery time i call they say the person on charge of my case is unabailavle.
harris and harris has placed a collection on my credit report, and I need it removed . if I pay them the amount can or will they have to remove it from my credit report?
Harrisand harris call constantly the only thing right is they get our last name right, I’m sick of it we owe nothing to anybody we even have credit on some of our bills
question my husband medical bill from Christus Mother Frances Hospital was sent to you guys I called and made payment arrengements and mailed a couple of payments and then I stopped receiving the letters. am just wondering. I don’t want to leave something unpaid.
I received a letter stating my Driver’s License would be suspended if I did not pay a speeding ticket that is over 8 years old. I am 95% sure the case was dismissed because the officer didn’t show up. Prior to this I never received a call or letter from the state of IL regarding deliquesce. How do I go about even proving this and can they threaten to suspend my license? To boot it says Tax time many people use their returns to pay off tickets…..
Made payments to Harris and Harris fir our state taxes. Found out they have not been reporting the payments. I am not comfortable giving you my phone number please reply by email.thank you
Used to be you could fax a debt collector and they had to stop calling your work. Is that not the case anymore? I did that and they still call.