800-457-6273

I got a phone call and letter from the company below, but they wont tell me anything about what or who they are calling about.

Without giving any personal information, what was the letter about? Was it dated? Signed? Was there a return address? Your post could be of great help to the next person who searches this toll free number. They won't tell you anything, but what does the letter tell you? Magic 8 ball can't do it all.

I received a letter saying I owed the state money. I contacted some other companies and they said I did owe the state money but not as much as the letter said. It was recommended that I contact the office and get it resolved. So I called the provided number and did give them my ssn. And it seem fishy when I never herd back so I kept doing research until i found this site. If they are going to steel my identity then what is my next step. Who should I talk to?

You're gong to have to post the letter you received and leave out personal information.

If you got a letter saying you owe money to the state, then it would have to be an official state letter, or a letter from a debt collector working for the state.  What is it, exactly?

What office exactly are you supposed to contact?

Not clear what's going on.

If you're worried about ID theft, see this:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0009-taking-charge.pdf

A letter arrived at my mothers house stating i owe $452.00 for a grant over payment for SNAP program. It states the balance was $804.00 credit of $382.00 (payment) and now balance is $452.00. First I have never received any assistance (food stamps) from the gov.. In addition I have not lived in this state over 25 years. The letter had an account  and case number. This letter referenced statement of over payment or support due $5,739.00. A follow up will be made when I collect more details.

I got the same letter today, I have not had a link card haven't lived in illinois since 1997

My grandmother is having the same problem..something doesn't sound right and she already left a message to them with her ssn please help

I called this no.  after a   letter was sent saying I owed the state money.I called these people want my s.s.i. no. told them no way.  The Ill state never asks for s.s.i. over the phone .This is a scam .Beware!

No one said "everything is a crime", except you and "just pay your bills" is something a loser shill says.

Keep in mind, just because a number is legit, doesn't mean the caller is!

Scammers spoof legitimate numbers to trick people into a false sense of security to answer their calls and attempt to get money or personal information from you.
This is why no one will encourage others to report of legitimate numbers, as they only confuse people into believing it is a legit call when a scammer has called them and they come here to find out about the call.

If it is a legitimate call, then anyone receiving a call would know WHY they got a call from this number, right?
So what would be a reason to come and post about it to a site designed to share information about UNKNOWN callers, such as Telemarketers, Scammers and Debt Collectors?

If your call was legit,  telling about it won't  be any comfort to those who may get a spoofed call from some scammer!

Always call a number from an Official document or website, like Illinois Department of Human Services. Never trust a stranger on the phone to be who they say they are or an email that looks suspicious.

Showed up on my credit report - disputed item and was removed - but now put a fraud alert on as they did have the last 4 of my social.  They gave me some number to call - but could be just a fake answering message 800-457-6273. Attempted to contact ILL dept of hs at 800-843-6154 (long wait)
Reported to Colorado attorney general.

You will need to send them a certified, return receipt debt validation (by law they have to go back to the original creditor to prove you owe the debt), cease and desist calling, or "not me" letter (this will be the best money that you have ever invested).  Also send it first class mail in case no one will sign for it.  Make a notation of that fact at the bottom of the letter.  You also need to report them to the proper agencies to which I have provided links to.  Then you need to go out and get a consumer lawyer to sue them on a contingency basis (no money out of your pocket) and let them pay you for the harassment.  If everyone did these three things, these crooks would be bankrupt, and we would all be the richer for it.  Use these web sites to find an attorney in your state that will probably take the case on a contingency basis (no money out of your pocket up front):  http://www.consumeradvocates.org/
http://www.consumeradvocates.org/find-an-atto ... tates_value=All

Everything else you need to know follows including at least two or more federal and state agencies where you should report their criminal activities.

HARVARD COLLECTION SERVICES, INC AKA H.C.S, INC. AKA HARVARD TELESERVICES AKA NORTHERN HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE AKA NORTHERN CREDIT SERVICE.

Website says they are in Chicago and hiring felons to make extortion collection calls: https://www.harvardcollect.com/contact-us/

BBB gives them an accredited A+ rating with 45 complaints and 11 negative reviews (BBB removed 20 complaints) as of 9/9/20: https://www.bbb.org/us/il/chicago/profile/col ... s-inc-0654-6728

Illinois Dept. of State info:

File Number    52767806
Entity Name    HARVARD COLLECTION SERVICES, INC.
Status    ACTIVE
Entity Type    CORPORATION     Type of Corp    DOMESTIC BCA
Incorporation Date (Domestic)    06/15/1982     State    ILLINOIS
Agent Name    ILLINOIS CORPORATION SERVICE C     Agent Change Date    02/05/2016
Agent Street Address    801 ADLAI STEVENSON DRIVE     President Name & Address    MARC CHIBNIK 4839 N ELSTON AVECHICAGO, IL 60630
Agent City    SPRINGFIELD     Secretary Name & Address    MARC CHIBNIK SAME
Agent Zip    62703     Duration Date    PERPETUAL
Annual Report Filing Date    04/19/2018     For Year    2018
Assumed Name    ACTIVE - H.C.S. INC.
ACTIVE - HARVARD TELESERVICES
ACTIVE - NORTHERN HEALTH CARE ALLIANCE
ACTIVE - NORTHERN CREDIT SERVICE

Illinois requires debt collectors to be licensed and this outfit did not renew their license in 2015 according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation :

HARVARD COLLECTION SERVICES INC    Tyler, TX 75701

License
License Information
License Number    Description     Status    First Effective Date    Effective Date    Expiration Date    Ever Disciplined
009001546    LICENSED COLLECTION AGENCY BRANCH OFFICE    NOT RENEWED    10/09/2015    10/09/2015    05/31/2018    N

Other Licenses
Other Licenses
License Number    Description     Status    First Effective Date    Effective Date    Expiration Date    Ever Disciplined
009001514    LICENSED COLLECTION AGENCY BRANCH OFFICE    ACTIVE    04/09/2015    05/30/2018    05/31/2021    N
017000603    LICENSED COLLECTION AGENCY    CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP    03/31/1990    05/13/2009    05/31/2012    N
017021536    LICENSED COLLECTION AGENCY    ACTIVE    10/12/2011    05/30/2018    05/31/2021    N

Other complaints:

https://forums.debtcc.com/collection-agencies/distance-debt.html
https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuilding-Y ... ved/td-p/538713
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/8005369633

Looks like they get sued a whole lot (these are just a few of the ones that came up):

https://casetext.com/case/salgado-v-harvard-collection-services
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6642842/ ... n-services-inc/
https://www.classaction.org/media/bourne-v-harvard-collection-services.pdf
https://www.law360.com/cases/5af4c80e65d41e056f000001

It is incumbent upon them under the law to prove that the debt exists and that you owe it, and (this is the important part) that they have the legal right to collect it.  You are not obligated under the law to prove that you don’t owe or that it is paid.  

Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) postmarked 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 receipt of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.

First, you should make a complaint at this Federal Agency, and while there you should also read up on how debt collection is supposed to work as well as what your rights in this matter are: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/

Also file complaints with the FTC: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-1

Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices:   https://800notes.com/faq/attorney-general

Also file a report with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation:   http://www.idfpr.com/