I know this is not going to go over very well in here but a few months ago I caught a couple of small collections on my report ($80's, both) and I called up the collection agencies. As always, they answered "This call will be recorded" and I said "Yeah, doesn't everybody record calls these days - me too" and the first agency I called, the lady caught it and said she had to hang up because they don't authorize recordings from other parties. I hung up and called again and the next person didn't catch it, or say anything if he did. I asked them what the debt was (in both cases - the second CA CSA didn't say anything about my recording comment either), they told me and I told them I didn't think they were mine. They, of course, starting arguing with me and I said (again, basically - to both) "Look, since I don't think this is mine, I'm willing to let it fall off my credit report in a few years, but if I'm willing to pay $50 (again - both CA's) right now just to get this item off of my credit report, will you delete it completely from my CR's?"
So, both said "Yeah, that's what we do - we just want your money - it could take 30 days but we'll remove it from your report." Both put me on hold while they "spoke with their supervisor and asked if they could accept my offer". In both cases, they came back and cheerfully told me they take all major credit cards and I paid them both the $50 settlement offer. They actually DID remove these two baddies as promised.
YMMV (your mileage may vary). At least I had recordings of them, without them protesting my VERY CASUAL statement that I, too was recording the convo, so I felt like I had them by the 'nads. BOL and either give this a try or some of the (perhaps?) better advice offered in this fantastic forum.
