You should not assume that Harris & Harris is a scam if you're receiving unfamiliar calls. Harris & Harris is a real debt collection agency, and the company may be pursuing an unpaid debt you allegedly owe. The company has been collecting debt across the U.S., from New York to California, since its founding in 1968, with about 500 employees today. Its headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois. The agency may show up under a number of names on your credit report, such as Harris and Harris Debt Collectors, Harris and Harris Ltd., Harris Collection, Harris Harris, Harris Ltd., or Harris & Harris Limited.
Harris & Harris collects for a variety of lenders, creditors and businesses across several industries. Their main areas of service include:
- Government
- Healthcare
- Utilities
How Remove Harris & Harris from your Credit Report
1. Request copies of your credit report
The first step in dealing with a collection company is reading over your credit report. At least until the end of 2023, you can use AnnualCreditReport.com to get free weekly credit report checks from each of the three big bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).
By checking your credit report, you’ll be able to confirm that the debt collector contacting you has actually reported a debt, and then you can review the details of the collection item for accuracy.
2. Write a letter to dispute the debt
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), collections agencies must validate your debt if you write a letter of request. Send a written debt validation letter request via certified mail to leave a clear paper trail. At a minimum, their validation will tell you the name of the original creditor and the amount they say you owe.
If the collection agency is charging you for a debt that you’re certain you don’t owe, you should dispute it. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you can also dispute inaccuracies on your credit report with the credit bureaus and they will have to investigate.
Even if you are responsible for the debt that Harris & Harris is requesting payment for, submitting a debt validation letter is still worth a shot. Since debt collectors are third-party agencies collecting on behalf of other companies, there’s a chance they don’t have valid documentation for your debt. If that’s the case, they should remove you from their calling and mailing lists and take the account off your credit report promptly.
The key to this method is acting fast. You can usually only dispute the claim within 30 days of the agency notifying you of your debt or responding with validation. If the negative mark has been on your report for less than a month, you should definitely submit a debt validation letter.
3. Make a payment
If the window for debt validation has closed, your best bet may be to contact Harris & Harris about a partial payment. There’s a chance the agency will be willing to negotiate a smaller payment in exchange for removing the collections account from your credit report. You can start your negotiations at around half of the amount you owe.
When you negotiate a payment, it’s imperative to communicate by mail. This solidifies your agreement and makes it easier to hold the debt collector to their agreement to remove the account from your report should there be any disagreements later on. Once you’ve come to an agreement on paper and made your payment, you should be able to see the changes on your credit report. If it’s been more than 30 days and you’re still waiting for your report to update, you should follow up with the agency.
If you’ve already settled a debt and it’s still showing up on your credit report, you can also send a letter asking the collection company to remove this information as a goodwill deletion. In your letter, identify the debt, note that it has been paid and request removal of the negative mark.
4. Let a credit repair company assist you
While you can certainly succeed with the DIY methods above, dealing with a collection agency can be frustrating and time-consuming. If you’re looking to play a less active role in the process but still improve your credit, a good credit repair agency can handle the process for you.
Consumer complaints and Harris & Harris
Consumers often complain about debt collection agencies and file complaints with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). People have filed more than 400 debt collection complaints in the past three years against Harris & Harris with the CFPB and 265 in the same timeframe with the BBB.
Common consumer complaints include inaccurate credit reporting and aggressive phone calls, and many of the complaints mention disputes over medical debt. The BBB has accredited Harris & Harris, which currently has an A+ rating based on its response to complaints, communication and transparency with the public.
If you’re forced to deal with Harris & Harris (or any debt collector), you should first educate yourself on the FDCPA. This act holds debt collectors to certain ethical communication standards, and it prohibits them from harassing you. It also gives you the right to demand that the agency only communicates with you by letter, which can be a relief if they are calling you repeatedly.
Consumer complaints and Harris & Harris
Consumers often complain about debt collection agencies and file complaints with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). People have filed more than 400 debt collection complaints in the past three years against Harris & Harris with the CFPB and 265 in the same timeframe with the BBB.
Common consumer complaints include inaccurate credit reporting and aggressive phone calls, and many of the complaints mention disputes over medical debt. The BBB has accredited Harris & Harris, which currently has an A+ rating based on its response to complaints, communication and transparency with the public.
If you’re forced to deal with Harris & Harris (or any debt collector), you should first educate yourself on the FDCPA. This act holds debt collectors to certain ethical communication standards, and it prohibits them from harassing you. It also gives you the right to demand that the agency only communicates with you by letter, which can be a relief if they are calling you repeatedly.
Harris & Harris contact information
- Address: 111 W Jackson Blvd Ste 400, Chicago, IL 60604-4135
- Phone Number: 1-800-362-0097
- Website: www.harriscollect.com
For more information, click here.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).