I would try contacting the OC to see if you could pay them directly.
I had a very similar debt. It was Time Warner Cable. The OC wasn't reporting it.......a CA was.
So I called up TWC and asked them if I could please pay them because I didn't want to deal with the CA (I told them they were rude and obnoxious and I didn't want to talk to them anymore). They said yes........I got the amount and the address I needed to send payment to.
Then I wrote up a PFD letter (the first one I posted in the PFD thread) and sent a check in the amount requested with a restrictive endorsement on the back. Once I saw that the check was cashed I called them up and asked why it wasn't on my report. They tried to tell me they didn't get the letter (impossible......I stapled the check to the letter).....then they had to "research it". I even gave them the name of the person that signed the RR card. They were telling me they had no control over the CA reporting it (bull)........I told them if TWC accepted payment, then the CA no longer has the right to report it. I got the person's name I spoke with and kept calling back......got excuse after excuse.......I even got her email and started emailing her often. My final email was telling them that they were in violation and I was about to seek legal counsel. Then all of a sudden, the TL disappeared.
Now, even though restrictive endorsements aren't allowed in your state. I think this would work and is worth a shot......and for this small amount........they may not want to mess with you if you get really persistent.
Don't even mention getting it deleted from your CRs. Just ask if they can please recall the debt from the CA and if you can pay them instead. If the debt has only been assigned and not sold........then they should be able to do this. You may have to pay the full amount........but I would MUCH rather pay an OC a full amount than paying a CA half.
So.......sorry to ramble but I just wanted to let you know that with a little persistence, I think you can take care of it and get it removed from your reports.
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