Consumer complaint received 2016-08-15
Product: Debt collection — Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Taking/threatening an illegal action — Attempted to/Collected exempt funds
Company: Harris & Harris, Ltd. (IL)

My state refund was garnished in the amount of {$650.00} without notice from the agency that is now responsible for the debt. Harris & Harris was the collection agency who has claimed to have contacted me by mail twice in the past couple of years. I have not received anything from them. They have a bad address for me as I have not lived in XXXX for 7 or more years. When I contacted the State I was told that debt was for some old traffic ticket owed to XXXX County. I called the XXXX County clerk office and they provided me with some information about that debt stating that it was from traffic court in XX/XX/XXXX, however they are no longer responsible for the debt now. They have transferred it to Harris & Harris who adds a XXXX % fee to the original balance. When I contacted Harris & Harris XXXX/XXXX/XXXX @ XXXX I spoke to a receptionist who transferred me to a rep by the name of XXXX XXXX once I provided my first & last with a secondary piece of information my SSN. I asked XXXX what address did they have on file for me and she did not want to provide it to me. She asked can I tell her my current address, I advised her that I have provided the necessary information for her to disclose information about the account and she can tell me more about the account since they have garnished my wages. I told her that I have not been informed of the debt nor did I received a first notice in the mail of any phone calls. I told her that I was not giving a change to dispute the validity of the debt. She place me on hole and without notice cold transfer me to what was supposed to me a Supervisor by the name of XXXX XXXX. XXXX was rude from the beginning of the call. She asked my name, and address. I provided my full name and SSN and asked her to tell me the address on file. XXXX did not provided the address to me and began to accuse me of calling them because of the letter I received. I advised her multiple times that I was calling because my wages were garnished from my state taxes. She said I would have been sent a notice which I received at the address which is on file. ( That she did not want to provide ) XXXX was rude an argumentative. She over talked me and accused me of receiving notices from them. I told her that the address they have on file is not correct and I do n't live in XXXX and have n't for years. I told her that I am sure their VP would not like the way she is handling the call. XXXX responded saying she has done nothing wrong and I am calling because of the letter that I received which they sent to me. I told her that I would like to dispute the validity of the debt since I was never given any validation period and this is my first contact with them that is my right. XXXX ignored me and accused me more of knowing about the debt. I was never given any dispute talk off if they have one, nor was my dispute ever acknowledged. I am beyond upset with the level of professionalism from this organization especially from a Supervisor. My moneys was garnished and I never received proper notice of the debt. I never received one phone call from Harris & Harris about the debt. After I realized that I was not going to get anywhere with XXXX XXXX. I advised her that I will be submitted a complaint against the agency. XXXX did not seem concerned and did not offer to assist me any further. She then tried to say that she has done nothing wrong. She said that city of bloomington garnished my refund. I told her that I spoke to XXXX County and was told that the debt was transferred to Harris & Harris and she said that is correct. XXXX XXXX was unprofessional, rude, and unaware of the consumer rights as a Supervisor. I was not properly notified of the debt nor was I given a notice before my wages were garnished.