While the post does not state specifically when SOL expires or when credit report exclusion occurs, I concur that paying the debt, if you can, is desirable, as it is always good to have no unpaid, delinquent debt. It could always come back to haunt at an unexpected time, such as when applying for a mortgage loan or other significatnt amount of credit where they are likely to ask for disclosure of any unpaid, delinquent debt.
The only suggestion I would offer is that, if possible, attempt to get their agreement only to report paid, and not add the addtiional, and optional, special comment of settled for less. The addition of the optional special comment informs others who review your credit report that the lendor took an loss in having extended the credit, even though it was settled. Absent that special comment, your credit report would appear the same as if you had paid in full.
It wont affect your score, but will look much better in any manual review, as any repetition of your past pattern will result in a loss if they lend to you. It could, in and of itself, be a reason for denial of new credit.
