You offfered a pay for deletion, and apparently they countered with an offer to settle for less, but without agreement to delete.
You can continue negotiations by countering with acceptance of the settlement offer, but with the additional contingency that they also agree to credit report deletion.
You would thus be offering two conditions..... that they accept less than the full amount and delete their reporting.
Your chances of acceptance may be better if you counter with only the one concesion of CR deletion, and offer to pay the full amount.
If they agree to deletion, regardless of the agreed amount paid, it is always prudent to get written acceptance.
However, some debt collectors are reluctant to put such agreements in writing in view of their credit reporting agreement with the CRA, which includes statement of the CRA policy that furnishers should not delete based on payment of the debt.
Their agreement is an oral contract. Your decision as to whether you require written affirmation. If it kills the deal, you might forgo that requirement.
