Consumer complaint received 2024-08-14
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Communication tactics — Frequent or repeated calls
Company: Harris & Harris, Ltd. (IL)

I was called and/or left voice mails from Harris & Harris Limited using phone numbers XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX on the following dates and times ; XX/XX/XXXX, at XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX Voice mails were left by each phone number identifying they were coming from Harris & Harris Limited . Every single call made -- save for one on a Sunday -- was during my working hours. The purpose of the calls were not identified in any of the voicemails, and I have previously received excessive calls from a similarly named company. All voice mails were pre-recorded, repeated messages. 

My voicemail recording also specifically states the following, " Hello! You've reached the personal cellphone of XXXX XXXX, formerly known as XXXX XXXX. I can't come to the phone right now -- please leave a message, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. For urgent personal matters, you may text me at this same number. If you're an XXXX XXXX XXXX, be advised that this is not a secured line, and I work from home. This line should not be used to leave any personal health information. You can call XXXX XXXX XXXX at XXXX, and the message will be securely routed to my work inbox accordingly. Thank you! Please leave your message. '' I have never been texted by this company. 

I called back on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX and spoke to a representative whose name I can not recall. I was informed I was on a recorded line. I asked what the purpose for the multiple calls -- especially multiple calls on one day -- were for, and I was informed that Harris and Harris was attempting to collect a debt on behalf of XXXX XXXX XXXX. I was asked if this is XXXX XXXX, to which I responded that my name is XXXX XXXX, and that XXXX XXXX is my old name. ( XXXX XXXX is my legal name per an approved court order from last year. ) The agent then asked, " So, you're XXXX XXXX then '', to which I responded, " No. That is not my name. That is my OLD name. '' I felt pretty disrespected by her exasperated tone. I can't help but feel like there are other ways to confirm whether or not my name was legally changed other than by calling me by a name I never want to be called by again, after specifically stating it is NOT my name. Her personal feelings on the matter should not affect the way she treats me when attempting to verify a debt, especially after I explained the excessive calls. It was unprofessional and unprovoked. 

I was then asked for my date of birth. Because of the unprofessional way I was being treated, and because I have never authorized this company to call me more than once a day -- I'm under the impression that this is illegal per the FDCPA --, I started doubting the legitimacy of the company. I asked why I had to give my date of birth, and explained that I was under the impression that if they own the debt by buying it from XXXX XXXX, then they would already have that information. Prior healthcare debt collectors I have interacted with before have listed my address to confirm that they are legitimate -- whether or not this is following laws and regulations, I do not know. 

I was then informed that they did not buy the debt, they're contracted with XXXX XXXX XXXX, and they do have that information, but they needed to verify my identity using two different pieces of information. While I understand that is the standard to protect my personal health information in the case of PHI, I have been exposed to many healthcare-related phishing and identity theft scams directed at both myself and my XXXX  due to my profession. By virtue of not being well-studied on financial law, I didn't know how to respond. After a pause, I asked if I could put the agent on hold for a moment. I had muted myself and went to ask a friend who knows financial law better than I do to try to figure out if this call is legitimate, as I did not want to give my personal information to an illegitimate debt collector, and XXXX searches on Harris & Harris Limited gave some pretty discouraging answers. After a medium length pause, I heard the agent say, " What? ", and before I could unmute myself to answer, she hung up, ultimately not verifying that the debt belongs to me. 

Most medical facilities I go to, I request that somewhere in my chart that a note stating my updated legal name is posted, and I do inform them that XXXX XXXX is my legal name, and offer to dispense my court order. Unfortunately, most facilities require my ID and/or SSN to be updated, which is not something I've been able to do on my own due to my illnesses, and thus it has not been fully updated yet. I keep trying, but my functioning is extremely limited, and I live 30 miles away from my supports. I am required to update my ID in person, but most of the time it is not safe or advisable for me to leave the house without someone else present to provide supportive care in the case of a flare up or emergency.