Clarification - DOFD vs DOLA

[EaglesFan2006]

I just read on another forum someone say that if you pay off a collection it will reset and remain as a paid collectoin for another 7 years.  My collections are all several years old and I have been paying them down .... If i have a collection that was reported 3/2004 and has about 80 dollars remaining in balance (which will be paid off this month) will this disappear in 3/2011 or in 3/2016 (assuming 7 years)

If this is the case i really shot myself in the foot by paying these off...

[llecs]

Nope...not true. CAs are limited to 7-7.5 yrs from DOFD as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Some CAs illegally change DOFD and opt to report for an extended time, but pulling your reports directly from the CRAs on a frequent basis protects you from that.