How To Deal With Harris & Harris

What Is Harris & Harris?

Harris & Harris is a debt collection agency based in Chicago, Illinois. They work with healthcare providers, government agencies, toll operators, and utility companies to collect on past-due accounts.

You may also see their name listed as:

• Harris and Harris

• Harris & Harris, LTD

• Harris & Harris Debt Collectors

• Harris & Harris Limited

• Harris Collections

Here’s their contact information: 

🌐 Website: https://www.harriscollect.com

📞 Phone: 1-800-362-0097 (toll-free)

📍Address: 111 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60604

Why Is Harris & Harris Contacting Me?

If you’ve received a call or letter from Harris & Harris, it likely means you have an unpaid bill and the original creditor has hired them to collect it. This could be related to a medical bill, utility service, toll charge, or a government-related fee.

Creditors usually bring in collection agencies like Harris & Harris after multiple failed attempts to collect the debt themselves. Once Harris & Harris is managing the account, you’ll need to work directly with them to verify the debt, dispute it if necessary, or discuss payment options.

Is Harris & Harris Legit?

Yes, Harris & Harris is a legitimate debt collection agency. As of late 2025, they’re accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and hold an A+ rating. That said, their customer review rating on BBB is 1.1 out of 5 stars, and they’ve received more than 800 complaints in the past three years.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a government agency that oversees financial products and protects consumers, has also received more than 1,700 complaints about Harris & Harris over the past year. Many of these reports involve issues like frequent phone calls, attempts to collect debts without proper validation, and concerns about harassment.

🛡️ Some of these actions may violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law that prevents debt collectors from using abusive or deceptive behavior in their collection efforts. If you think your rights under the FDCPA have been violated, you can file a complaint with the CFPB.

Note to reader: These reviews and complaints highlight relevant issues but may not represent all consumers’ experiences.

How Do I Know if I’m Being Scammed?

Even if the company contacting you is real, scammers can still pretend to be from legitimate agencies like Harris & Harris to trick you into paying money you don’t owe. One of the major red flags is if they ask for sensitive personal information — like your Social Security number or bank account details. A legitimate debt collector should already have this information and won’t pressure you to share it.

It’s always important to validate the debt before making any payments (more on this later). If something feels off, trust your instincts and ask questions.

📣 And if you suspect a scam, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This is a government agency that helps protect consumers’ rights.

Do I Have To Pay Harris & Harris?

If Harris & Harris contacts you, your first step is to find out whether the debt they’re trying to collect is legitimate. Debt collectors can sometimes get things wrong — like the amount owed or even the person who owes it — so it’s important to validate the debt before taking any action.

✅ Validating a debt means confirming that:

• The debt is truly yours.

• Harris & Harris has the legal right to collect it.

• The amount they’re asking for is accurate.

Let’s walk through how to validate a debt that Harris & Harris claims you owe.

Step 1: Send a Debt Verification Letter

If you haven’t already received a debt validation letter from Harris & Harris, you can request one or send a debt verification letter yourself.

A debt validation letter is a document Harris & Harris must send you by law, either before or within five days of their first contact. It should include basic details about the debt and inform you of your right to dispute it within 30 days.

If you don’t receive this, or if the information is unclear or incomplete, you can send a debt verification letter to request more details or documentation.

📆 During the 30-day dispute window, the debt collector must pause all collection efforts — including phone calls, letters, and emails — until they verify the debt. If they can’t, you likely don’t have to pay. 

If Harris & Harris does verify the debt, your next steps will depend on whether all the information they provided is accurate.

Step 2: Decide What To Do Next

Even if it doesn’t feel like it, you do have choices in how to handle the situation with Harris & Harris.

🧮 The three main options are:

• Disputing the debt

• Negotiating or settling the debt

• Ignoring the debt (technically an option, but not recommended)

Option 1: Dispute the Debt

If you believe any of the information Harris & Harris provided is inaccurate — whether it’s the amount, the original creditor, or something else — you have the right to dispute the debt.

Mistakes in a debt validation letter often show up on your credit report as well. That’s why it’s a good idea to check your credit reports from all three major bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. If you spot incorrect information, you can file a dispute with the bureaus to have it corrected or removed.

🧾You can get one free copy of your credit report from each bureau every week through AnnualCreditReport.com.

✉️ You may also consider sending a 609 letter to request more information about how a specific item on your credit report was verified. While it won’t remove accurate information, it can help you understand why a debt is listed and whether the credit bureau has enough documentation to report it.

Option 2: Negotiate the Debt and Make a Settlement Offer

If paying the full amount isn’t realistic (and for many people, it’s not), negotiating a settlement could be a helpful option.

Debt collectors are often motivated to resolve accounts quickly. In many cases, they’re willing to settle for less than the full amount — often between 40% and 60% of the original balance. You can start negotiations with a lower offer, even around 25%, and work toward a middle ground.

While it might feel like the collector has all the power, that’s not necessarily true. Collectors may be willing to accept a reduced amount rather than risk receiving nothing at all. With the right approach, it’s possible to reach an agreement that works for both sides.

🤝 For more tips on negotiating, read How To Win Against Harris & Harris, Upsolve’s detailed guide to settling.

Option 3: Ignore the Debt (Not Recommended)

While it might feel easier to ignore a debt collector like Harris & Harris, doing so rarely leads to a better outcome. In fact, it often increases stress and can make the situation worse over time.

What Happens if I Ignore Harris & Harris?

The worst thing you can do if Harris & Harris contacts you is ignore them, hoping that will resolve the issue. Ignoring a debt collector can create more problems, such as:

• Hurting your credit score

• Costing you more money in the long run (due to interest charges, fees, potential court costs, etc.)

• Creating an opening for you to get sued by the debt collector

If you ignore a lawsuit, the court may issue a default judgment, which could allow the debt collector to garnish your wages or freeze your bank account.

Most of all, ignoring the debt doesn’t make the debt collector go away. While negative information drops off your credit report after seven years, the debt doesn’t disappear. Agencies can continue collection efforts until the statute of limitations expires. 

Can Harris & Harris Sue Me?

Unfortunately, Harris & Harris can sue you for an unpaid debt. While legal action is usually a last resort, it may happen if you don’t respond to their collection attempts.

⚖️ Whether or not a debt collector files a lawsuit depends on a few factors, including:

• Your state’s wage garnishment laws

• How long your debt has been in collections

• The amount of debt you owe

📄 If you’re sued, you’ll receive a summons and complaint, official court documents that explain the case and notify you of the lawsuit. These are usually delivered in person to you or another adult at your home.

It’s important to respond by the deadline listed in the summons. If you don’t, you could lose the case automatically, which can open the door to more aggressive collection actions.

If you're worried about responding on your own but can't afford a lawyer, you can draft an answer letter for a small fee using our partner SoloSuit. They've helped hundreds of thousands of people respond to debt lawsuits, and they have a 100% money-back guarantee. 

SoloSuit is an affiliate partner, which means Upsolve may earn a small commission if you choose to use their paid service. This helps keep our services free.

Bottom line: The sooner you take action, the more options you’ll have. Our guide on How To Win Against Harris & Harris can help you get started.

Let’s Summarize…

Harris & Harris is a legitimate debt collection agency that works with healthcare providers, utilities, toll agencies, and government entities to collect unpaid bills. If they contact you, it likely means a company you owe has hired them to recover the debt. 

Your first step should be to validate the debt to make sure it’s accurate and that Harris & Harris has the right to collect it. From there, you can decide whether to dispute the debt, negotiate a settlement, or arrange a payment plan. Taking action early can help you avoid added stress, protect your credit, and regain a sense of control.