Advice on Collection with Sprint and Colection with NCO financial

[02cdjohn]

Currently I have 3 collection accounts on my credit reports: (1) Medical collection for $57; (2) Progressive Auto Insurance for $257; and (3) Sprint for $170.  I was completely shocked by the medical and Progressive auto insurance. I had never received a bill from my hospital AT ALL.  Nor did they ever call me.  So I talked to the billing department and they will let me pay the $57 and then delete the record.

The Progressive Collection is through NCO.  I've been reading a couple of forums to see how I should deal with them.  The problem is that I need to have this take care of by November 30. I need to rent an apartment and I want these collections gone.

The Sprint Collection is with Pentagroup Financial.  I haven't had sprint in 2 years.  I switched to AT&T back in July 2010.  Anyways, I logged into my online sprint account and it actually will allow me to make a payment directly to Sprint for the $170.  I am excited about this because I can deal directly with the OC.  However, once I make the payment what do I do to get Pentagroup Financial to remove it from my CR? Any advice is welcomed!

[RobertEG]

If you pay the OC, they cannot either agree to or instruct the debt collector to delete their separate reporting of their collection activity.

They can call and ask them to delete, but the debt collector is in control of their own reporting, and can simply decline.

You have, in my opinion, incentive to offer a PFD directly to the debt collector, who can reach agreement with you to delete.

I understand reluctance to pay a debt collector, but it is often the better route. 

Dealing with the OC may appear easier, but it is not a direct route to obtaining deletion of any collection.