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Since it is in the accounts section, it could give you an increase if paid. I have seen that happen several times although a paid collection is not supposed to help.
Either way, since they update monthly your score shouldn't go down.
I have no idea. You could search the forums or just send them a settlement offer.
I'd say pending when you need the points, you should be there within the next month just by making payments on your credit card. Make a purchase, pay it off, keep it below the 9% util. Of course, that's just my experience. 1-2 months of on time payments have gotten me 5-6 points a month on all 3.