Many furnishers (both creditors and debt collectors) will decline to put a PFD agreement in writing. That is not unusually fishy or uncommon.
A primary reason is that such deletions are contrary to the written policy of the CRAs that is incorportated into their reporting agreements with the bureaus.
The CRAs are in business of selling credit histories. The more complete, the more value their products are assumed to be.
Subjective deletion of derogs does not present an accurate history, and thus the CRAs have a policy that is clearly stated in their common credit reporting manual ("Credit Reporting Resource Guide") and incorporated into their credit reporting agreements that furnishers are not to delete prior reporting based on payment of the debt.
Noncompliance with that agreed policy could result in termination of their credit reporting agreements, so they are reluctant to put PFD and GW agreements in writing.
Active efforts to collect additional fees for deletions contrary to CRA policy might add extra incentive not to put such agreemetns in writing.
If they do agree to a PFD, they have little to gain by risking legal action for violation of an oral contract. I would normally take them at their word, since the option is no PFD agreement.......
