Consumer complaint received 2017-08-03
Company: Harris & Harris, Ltd.
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
This morning at  XXXX  pacific time, I received a call from a Debt collector, Harris and Harris , ( Address :   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX   ,   XXXX   IL   XXXX   ), in the form of a recording telling me to call them at   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX  . At  XXXX  I returned the call, it was a debt collection agency, I was greeted by a person identifying themselves as   XXXX   XXXX   , I was immediately asked my name and my phone number, then my date of birth, which I would not provide, I asked what this was about and was told that unless I could be identified, the call could go no further. I asked to use some other form of identification, I was asked my address which I provided. I was then told that this was a call on behalf of their Client, the   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX  . I was told I owed {$320.00} and how did I want to pay that amount. I tried to explain that the bill was paid and asked how I could provide proof via email or fax? I was then given a scolding about courtesy and told that I must pay the bill and how did I want to pay it. I tried to explain that there must be a mistake and then told that there was no mistake and that the Client said that the amount was due and how did I want to pay it via credit, or debit card or check? I said I can not go any further and hung up. I immediately called the number on my last Bill from   XXXX   XXXX  . I knew the bill had been paid back in  XX/XX/XXXX , I tried to explain that to   XXXX   XXXX   ( phone number :   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX  , address :   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX    XXXX   XXXX   Ca.  XXXX  ), and was told it was set to collection on XX/XX/XXXX  and it was no longer their Bill and it was out of their hands completely.
I then called my   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX  ,  XXXX , and asked if they could help me, they then called Harris and Harris, who asked many questions which we answered we were then placed on hold and connected with.  XXXX   XXXX  , who repeated all of the previous questions, which we answered. I then gave permission to have   XXXX   tell   XXXX   that the Bill was paid back on  XX/XX/XXXX , and I did not owe anything. The person at  XXXX  was then asked to send over the proof of payment via fax, which she did, that person being   XXXX   XXXX  . at  XXXX , ( address   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX     XXXX    FLA.  XXXX , phone number :   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX   ext.   XXXX   ). After the fax was sent   XXXX   explained that the Bill would be sent back to their Client and they would then have control of it to relinquish the debt. I asked when that would happen and was told by   XXXX   that he did not know when his Customer relations person would send it over to   XXXX   XXXX   but I should wait two week and check with them. We were given an account number (   XXXX   ) and told to check with  XXXX  for further questions.
I immediately called   XXXX   XXXX   and told the CS rep that answered about the conversation I had with their Debt collector. I asked when I should expect to hear and how would I get confirmation that the problem was resolved. She said someone would possibly call me, but did not know when. I asked who the governing body that oversaw their operation was, she said she did not know, I asked for a supervisor, after a long hold time, a Supervisor came on the line. I explained the situation, and finally she agreed that there was a mistake and that it would be straightened out, I said I wanted something in writing and she said she would get back to me by tomorrow afternoon, to tell me to whom I couild complain about the whole incident.
My main issues are ; I was not allowed to provide proof to the Debt collector Harris & Harris or   XXXX   XXXX   to show that the Bill had been paid.
I was continuously coerced and asked to provide a form of payment at that moment, even after I explained that the bill was paid.
The Bill was satisfied in  XX/XX/XXXX  by  XXXX , I was then re-billed in  XX/XX/XXXX  and told, when I called   XXXX   XXXX  , to disregard it and that I might receive one more bill and to disregard it, I never heard another word until this morning from the Debt collector.
I was contacted a year and a half after the bill was satisfied, if I had not been sure the bill was paid, I might have paid it again with the penalties, and never known I paid it twice.
This type of business practice borders on fraud, especially for the elderly or those that have grave medical conditions, and who are intimidated into paying to avoid collections or judgement on their records.
This process has involved many hours of my time and sever hours of phone calls, to my insurance company to the debt collector to government agencies, and to the original bill collector. All for a bill that was paid.
I have attached the Explanation of benefits from  XXXX , clearly showing satisfaction of the payment balance of {$280.00} on XX/XX/XXXX . Also the current account balance showing the amount of a balance due of {$280.00}, currently on my account, the balance paid in  XX/XX/XXXX .

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation