Harris & Harris On Your Credit Report?

If you are receiving tedious, harassing phone calls from Harris & Harris, you are not alone. Harris & Harris is a collection agency that purchases debts from its clients for recovery purposes. What this means is that every year, Harris & Harris contacts thousands of Americans about supposed debts. In many cases, these collection efforts are the result of mistakes or reporting errors.

If you are one of the unfortunate people being contacted over derogatory collections claims from Harris & Harris, you have options. You do not need to pay anything you don’t owe, and you don’t need to fight collection agents alone.

Is Harris & Harris a Legitimate Company?

First, you probably want to know whether or not Harris & Harris is a legitimate company or a scam. The good news, if you can call it that, is that Harris & Harris is a legitimate company. This means they are not trying to rob you, and there are laws that they must obey. However, this does not stop Harris & Harris from making repeated phone calls or sending letters to people who do not deserve them.

Harris & Harris was founded in 1968 strictly as a collections agency. They have been in business ever since, growing into one of the largest debt collectors in the region. However, the company has a 1-star rating based on customer reviews. Harris & Harris does not have a great record when it comes to responding to customer complaints, according to the BBB.

The most common complaints against Harris & Harris have to do with attempting to collect on accounts that are closed, or targeting the wrong individuals. Many customers also complain that Harris & Harris is difficult to deal with when trying to resolve these issues.

How Can I Contact Harris & Harris?

Harris & Harris is a Chicago-based company. Typically, they communicate via telephone or mail. If you would like to contact Harris & Harris directly, their contact information can be found below:

• Website: https://www.harriscollect.com/
• Address: 111 W Jackson Boulevard, Suite 400. Chicago, IL, 60604
• Debt Payment Phone Number: 1-800-362-0097

However, it is advised that you make sure you are adequately prepared before contacting Harris & Harris directly. Obtaining the help of a credit repair company can be a tremendous asset when dealing with any debt collection agency.

Who Does Harris & Harris Collect For?

Harris & Harris primarily collects debts for clients in three industries: healthcare, government, and utilities. Like most collection agencies, Harris & Harris does not publicly list any of their individual clients. 

However, it is possible to identify the types of clients that Harris & Harris serves. Clients like hospitals, power companies, landlords, and government agencies might all use Harris & Harris’ collection services. Harris & Harris may also collect debts for overdue traffic and parking violations, among other clients.

Should I Contact Harris & Harris Directly?

If you receive a collection notice in error, it may seem reasonable to contact them directly by yourself. However, the online customer reviews for Harris & Harris point out just how tedious this can be. Harris & Harris has a poor reputation when it comes to responding to customer complaints and settling accounts.

Additionally, it is usually advised that you seek help before contacting a collection agency for any reason. This is true whether you truly owe them money or not. Procuring the help of a credit repair company can help resolve any issues with debt collectors more quickly. Considering how long collection accounts can linger on your credit report, this can be a very big deal.

To be clear, you should never ignore a letter or phone call from Harris & Harris collection agents. Ignoring a debt collector completely can lead to larger problems in some cases. However, you should make sure that you are adequately prepared to deal with debt collectors before contacting them.

Could I Be Sued by Harris & Harris for Unpaid Collections?

It is very rare for Harris & Harris, or other debt collectors, to sue debtors. As long as you are proactive in responding to the collection efforts, you should never face a lawsuit from creditors.

What Rights Do I Have When Dealing With a Collections Agency?

As collection agents, Harris & Harris employees must obey both the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collections Practices Act).

This means that debt collectors must behave ethically and legally when dealing with any debtors. According to the FDCPA, debt collectors:

• May not threaten violence of physical harm.
• May not use any threatening language
• Cannot use any deceptive or misleading practices in collecting debts.
• Cannot make repeated phone calls or contacts at inconvenient times (Making phone calls before 8 AM or after 9 PM).
• Cannot collect any unauthorized expenses, including interest or fees which were not previously specified.
• May not continue contacting debtors after the account has been settled.

What Can I Do To Remove Harris & Harris Collections from My Credit Report?

If you received a collections notice from Harris & Harris in error, there may be a number of reasons why. Some common causes of inaccurate debt collections include:

• Your identity was stolen and fraudulent accounts were opened in your name.
• The collection agency sends a collection notice to the wrong individual.
• The collection agency attempts to collect a debt on an account that has already been closed or paid.
• Accidental file duplication.
• An expired debt (older than 7 years) is still showing up on your credit report.

When attempting to remove Harris & Harris from your credit report, there are a few steps you can take. The first, and often most important step, is to seek debt verification. If Harris & Harris cannot verify the debt, this can often resolve your issue without any further steps. Debt verification should include the debtor’s name, the amount owed, and payment dates. If Harris & Harris does provide proof of the debt, you can still remove it from your credit report.

To fully remove the debt, you have two main options: you can either reach a settlement or dispute the debt. If you truly do not owe the debt, disputing is your best option. The FCRA ensures that you have a legal right to dispute, and Harris & Harris must honor your dispute.

Reaching a settlement often involves paying a portion of the debt in exchange for having it removed from your credit report. This is less desirable than successfully disputing the debt. However, it is a better option than having the debt linger on your credit report for years.‍

What if I Pay Harris & Harris in Full?

Paying the full debt to Harris & Harris may seem like a good idea. If your goal is to get Harris & Harris to stop harassing you, this is an effective method. However, paying a debt does not fully remove it from your credit report. Instead, the account’s status will simply change from “open” to “closed” on your credit report. It will then stay on your credit report for up to 7 years. This can keep your credit score lower than it should be during that time.

Fight Back Against Harris & Harris With Credit Repair Services

If you are suffering from harassment from Harris & Harris over a collections account, you don’t need to face them alone. No matter what your situation is, you are entitled to a fair legal process. To help navigate that complicated legal process, you can secure the help of a credit repair company, like Credit Glory.

Credit Glory’s expert team can review your case and determine the best course of action to help settle your account. Then we can go to work against Harris & Harris on your behalf. Contact Credit Glory today for a free consultation to find out if we can help you.