Consumer complaint received 2025-12-26 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Telecommunications debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Company: Harris & Harris, Ltd.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint because Harris & Harris Ltd is reporting a collection account for XXXX XXXX in a manner that is inaccurate, misleading, incomplete, and in violation of federal credit reporting laws. The following issues exist : 1. Illegal Past Due Reporting on a Collection Account The tradeline states : Collection account. {$440.00} past due as of XX/XX/year>. 

This is not legally permitted under Metro 2 standards or federal law.

Collections can not show a " past-due '' amount because the debt has already been charged-off by the original creditor. 

This violates : FCRA 607 ( b ) maximum accuracy FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) prohibition of reporting false or misleading information 2. Improper Date Opened & Possible Illegal Re-Aging The account lists Date Opened : XX/XX/year>, which is only the date the debt was assigned to Harris & Harris not the Date of First Delinquency ( DOFD ). 

Failure to report DOFD violates : FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 5 ) FCRA 605 ( a ) 7-year reporting rule Using the collector 's date instead of the original delinquency date is considered re-aging, which artificially keeps the account on my credit file longer than legally allowed. 

3. Missing Required DOFD ( Date of First Delinquency ) Harris & Harris is REQUIRED to report the DOFD to the credit bureaus.

Not reporting DOFD constitutes : FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 5 ) violation CFPB & FTC guidance violation Without the DOFD, consumers can not verify the age, legitimacy, or reporting limits of the debt. 

4. Improper Monthly C Collection Codes The reporting includes : XXXX codes for XXXXXXXX XXXX Collections are not allowed to report ongoing monthly collection activity as if the account continues to become delinquent each month.

This violates : FCRA 607 ( b ) must be accurate and not misleading CFPB Metro 2 standards These codes artificially depress credit scores by simulating continued late payments after charge-off.

5. No Validation Provided FDCPA Violations I have not received : any debt validation notice itemization of the alleged balance proof that XXXX XXXX  authorized this collection a right-to-dispute letter This violates : FDCPA 809 ( a ) & ( b ) validation of debts Regulation F ( 12 CFR Part 1006 ) itemization requirements Collectors must stop reporting until proper validation is provided. 

6. IRS 1099-C Concerns Debt Cancellation Reporting If XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX the debt canceled the balance sold the account to a secondary market took a tax deduction recorded it in a write-off file They may have triggered IRS Form 1099-C requirements . 

Under federal tax law : 26 U.S.C. 6050P Treasury Regulation 1.6050P-1 A creditor must issue a 1099-C when a debt is canceled or XXXX. 

I have never received a 1099-C from Harris & Harris or XXXX. 

This raises IRS compliance concerns and questions about whether the balance is legally collectible.

7. Consumer Harm Due to this inaccurate and illegal reporting, I have suffered : credit score reduction negative impact on loan approvals increased interest rates time and financial loss correcting inaccurate data

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation