How to Resolve a Debt With Harris and Harris in 2024

If you’ve asked yourself, “Why is Harris and Harris calling me?” you’re not alone.

Debt collectors are relentless. They call constantly and flood your mailbox with letters. Harris & Harris is one of the most aggressive collectors out there.

Companies hire Harris & Harris to collect past due debts. You can fight back and resolve your debt for good.

Below, we explain how to beat Harris & Harris and move forward.

What Is Harris and Harris Debt Collection Agency?

Harris & Harris may appear on your credit report under several names:

• Harris & Harris Limited
• Harris Harris
• Harris and Harris Ltd
• Harris Collection
• Harris and Harris Debt Collectors

Here are their contact details:

To pay a debt call: 1-800-362-0097
Clients call: 1-866-781-4538
Address: 111 W. Jackson Blvd, Suite 400 Chicago, IL 60604

The company purchases your debt from creditors like credit card companies. They contact you by phone or mail demanding payment. Harris and Harris collects for taxes, utilities, government, healthcare, and more.

When you refuse to pay, Harris & Harris will keep calling. They leave negative marks on your credit report. They may even sue you.

Who Does Harris and Harris Collect For?

Harris and Harris primarily collects for healthcare companies. They also work with government agencies and utility companies.

Harris and Harris Has Received Many Complaints

As of 2024, Harris & Harris Ltd. has received hundreds of complaints with the Better Business Bureau. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reports more than 1,000 complaints against them.

Most complaints involve violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA):

• Using vulgar and abusive language to collect debts
• Failing to provide documentation of paid debts
• Failing to validate debts when requested
• Calling consumers at their workplaces
• Using robocalls to collect debts
• Reporting inaccurate information to credit bureaus

Here’s one example complaint:

“They call me several times a day, on my work number, purportedly to collect on a debt from someone else. I have asked four times to be removed from their call list, which they say they’ll do, and then they call me back within hours. I warned that if this happens again I will contact the authorities, they called me back less than an hour later and, this time, when I threatened to report them, they called me back three successive times within seconds. This is a harassing, illegitimate enterprise that must be stopped.”

You’re not alone in feeling frustrated. Here are steps to beat Harris & Harris and their aggressive tactics.

Confirm the Debt Claim Is Legitimate

Verifying if Harris & Harris’ claim is legitimate is essential. Collection agencies must respond to your debt validation request under the FDCPA.

Harris & Harris might be collecting an incorrect debt. They might have contacted you by mistake. When debts shuffle to third party collectors, details often get lost.

If you pay without verifying, you might pay someone else’s debt.

You have 30 days after first contact to request debt verification. If you don’t verify within 30 days, they assume the debt is yours.

Send a debt validation letter right away. Many debt collectors drop cases after receiving validation requests.

You Can Dispute the Debt

Credit bureaus must remove inaccurate information by law. Your credit report isn’t always accurate.

Get your free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com. Review it carefully for errors and typos. Any error could lead to the collection account being removed.

File your dispute with all three credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Submit all supporting documents to each bureau.

Offer to Settle With Harris and Harris

If the debt is valid and properly documented, settling is often your best option. Our partner Solo can help you negotiate a settlement for much less than the original amount.

You face potential legal action if you refuse to pay. Harris & Harris often accepts reduced settlements to close accounts quickly.

You can arrange monthly payments if you can’t pay the full amount. Many collectors agree to reduce your total debt significantly.

If sued, settling outside of court saves time and money. Paying a reduced amount is more realistic than trying to eliminate the debt entirely.

Remove Harris and Harris From Your Credit Report

Negotiate a pay-for-delete agreement with Harris and Harris. They may work with the original creditor to remove the collection account from your credit report.

Check the statute of limitations in your state first. Debt collection time limits vary by state. Once a debt reaches a certain age, you’re no longer legally liable.

This is called “zombie debt.” Harris Harris may still contact you about it. However, they cannot sue you, and you don’t have to pay.

What Happens If Harris & Harris Sues You?

Harris & Harris probably won’t sue you. But if they do, you must respond to the lawsuit immediately.

File a written Answer to the court within the deadline. Here are six tips to draft an Answer that strengthens your case:

1. Keep your Answer focused. Respond to each claim in the Complaint document. Admit, deny, or deny due to lack of knowledge. Don’t tell your whole story yet.
2. Deny as many claims as possible. Force Harris & Harris to prove their case. Make them do the work.
3. Include affirmative defenses. These are legal reasons Harris & Harris shouldn’t win. Common defenses include expired statute of limitations and lack of standing.
4. Use standard court formatting. Include a caption with court information, party names, and case number.
5. Include a certificate of service. Prove you served your Answer to Harris & Harris at the correct address.
6. Sign your Answer. Courts reject unsigned documents. Don’t skip this crucial step.

You can also file a Motion to Compel Arbitration. Many credit card agreements contain arbitration clauses. Filing this motion forces the case out of court.

Arbitration costs money and takes time for collectors. Many give up once they receive this motion. Always file an Answer first before considering a Motion to Compel Arbitration.

Respond to Harris and Harris Before the Deadline

Time is critical when dealing with debt collectors. Our partner Solo helps you respond to lawsuits quickly and correctly.

Don’t ignore letters or court documents from Harris and Harris. Ignoring them leads to default judgments. Default judgments allow wage garnishment and bank account levies.

Take action today to protect yourself and your finances.