The 7 year plus 180 day period from DOFD applies regardless of whether the debt is paid, remains unpaid, or is being repaid under a payment plan.
The entire purpose of adding section 605(c) to the FCRA was to set a single, date-certain exclusion date for collections and charge-offs that is independent of any other date other than the date you initially became delinquent on the debt, and thereafter remained delinquent until opening of a collection or taking of a charge-off.
