They claimed they were with a law office And that we owe taxes to Kansas and that our letters though we didn't receive them they confirmed our address and ask us to pay the delinquent balance Otherwise we would be in legal trouble. I explained I worry about scams and I wasn't sure about paying since I needed to verify woman said go ahead verify With KS and you will still contact me to pay me . It was all very strange as this woman claims she sent letters regarding a collection of our taxes if so why is this agency in Chicago Illinois when the taxes are from Kansas if that is even true ?
If you KNOW you owe no money, or believe the call was from a fake debt collector, please take the time to read this:
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
I do not know these people or attorney group. Have never visited the Chicago area. They call at least 4 to 5 times a week even on Saturday sometimes. It is always an automated call stating that this is a call from the law offices of Arnold Harris and they are debt collectors. They tell me to call this number. I ignore these calls and wish they would quit. I will not call them back it is a farce. I live no where around the Chicago area 600 miles away.
Law Offices of Arnold Scott Harris
AKA Harris & Harris
BBB page with an A+ rating and 94 complaints and 2 negative reviews: http://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/a ... ago-il-88002421
Harris & Harris contact page: http://harriscollect.com/hh_advantages/litigation/
Arnold Scott Harris Bar Registration: http://www.iardc.org/
LAWYER SEARCH: ATTORNEY'S REGISTRATION AND PUBLIC DISCIPLINARY RECORD
________________________________________
ARDC Individual Attorney Record of Public Registration and Public Disciplinary and Disability Information as of January 16, 2015 at 1:17:25 PM:
Full Licensed Name: Arnold Scott Harris
Full Former name(s): None
Date of Admission as Lawyer
by Illinois Supreme Court: November 6, 1986
Registered Business Address: Arnold Scott Harris, PC
111 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60604-3517
Registered Business Phone: (312) 423-7400
Illinois Registration Status: Active and authorized to practice law - Last Registered Year: 2015
Malpractice Insurance:
(Current as of date of registration;
consult attorney for further information) In annual registration, attorney reported that he/she has malpractice coverage.
Public Record of Discipline
and Pending Proceedings: None
Reviews and Complaints:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/arnold-scott-harris-pc-chicago
http://www.debt-collection-stopper.com/Arnold-Scott-Harris_174.html
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Arnold-Scott-Harris-PC/Ft-WOrth-Texas-76102/Arnold-Scott-Harris-PC-Masquerading-as-a-Law-office-Ft-WOrth-Texas-1082945
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-312-604-7171
http://www.waynestrnad.info/communityissues/H ... encyExposed.htm
Bottom line is this, even though they are attorneys, they are required to follow the FDCPA in collection matters.
Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter within 5 days of their first contact that contains their name, physical address, the creditor’s name, and the amount of the alleged debt. It also must contains “mini-miranda” telling you that it is an attempt to collect a debt and that all information will be used for those purposes. The one other important thing that this letter must also have in it is that you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days of the date of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.
Read up on your rights here, get template letters to send and also make a complaint at this government site: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
Also file a complaint with the Illinois AG’s Office: http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/
And the Illinois State Bar: http://www.iardc.org/
These fools have called our number four times.
Their listed web site 'www.payharris.com' forwards to
https://secure.modpay.com/vterm/vterm1.cfm?an&clientcode=479e1912
where their web page says:
"If you have any questions or would like to talk to a live
Collections Specialist, please call 1-(800) 362-0097
during standard business hours: Monday thru Friday
8am thru 5pm, Central Standard Time."
Their ' http://harriscollect.com/ ' site says:
Since 1968, Harris & Harris, Ltd. has been collecting debt for Government agencies, Utility services and Healthcare facilities.
They called again this morning (we are day sleepers) and I searched until I found the above contact information & called them AT THEIR COST.
They said they are looking for someone we have never heard of - Monica Walker.
As I told their employee, this has been our telephone number for over a decade & we have never heard of her. I also told them that if they call here again I WILL file a formal harassment complaint with my state's Attorney General's office against Harris & Harris, LTD.
"We are debt collectors. Please call us at 312-604-7173. Our office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Central Standard Time. Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Standard Time and Saturday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Central Standard Time. Thank you."
They do not state whom they are calling, or what company they are with. Not gonna call them back. just blocked the number now as it is 2 or 3 calls a day while I am at work