How to handle AT&T and Enhanced Recovery collection

[ASCENDANT]

Hello All!

I have a collection account with ERC for $288.00 The original creditor is AT&T. I am trying to find the best way to get the collection removed from my report. I was thinking that I would call AT&T and ask if they would pull the debt back from ERC and let me pay them (AT&T) directly. But, since reading the "ERC lost the ability to report to the bureaus post" I am also thinking about paying ERC and disputing the entry on my report. Does anyone have experience with these two companies? Is AT&T a company that is willing to pull debts back from collectors? What would be the best avenue toward a positive resolution?

Thank you all for your help. This is my first step in climbing the credit repair mountain. 

[RobertEG]

If you pay the debt collector, there will be no basis for a dispute of the collection remaining in your credit report.

CRA reporting policy instructs them not to delete based on payment of the debt.

You should offer the debt collector a PFD.

[ASCENDANT]

Thank you for your quick response. I will get that letter out immediately.

[Anonymous]

Don't pay or send a letter. It will renew the debt. Dispute the collections and it will be dropped immediately.

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuilding-Your-Credit/UPDATE-How-to-handle-Enhanced-Recovery-Compan...

[Anonymous]

I had a collection with enhanced recovery for sprint. if you call enchanced recovery and pay in full they will kindly delete it. Just make sure you ask.

[ASCENDANT]

How long ago were your dealings with ERC? I would like to pay the debt and get the entry removed from my report, but I was scared to call because I didn't want the to re-age the debt. My fear with disputing the debt off the report is they will sell it to someone who does report and I'll be stuck in the same boat again.

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty sure that won't happen. From my understand if it gets acquired by ERC then it's a blessing in disguise because they no longer are allowed to collect or report. Therefore I believe the debt is squashed right then.

[gdale6]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Don't pay or send a letter. It will renew the debt. Dispute the collections and it will be dropped immediately.

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuilding-Your-Credit/UPDATE-How-to-handle-Enhanced-Recovery-Company/td-p/4386084

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Sending a DV, PFD or GW letter will not renew the debt. Nothing renews an accounts DoFD once its been charged off. There are some debts that ERC lost the ability to report but it doesnt include all debts. Advocating the disputing of valid reporting debts on ones CR would be a violation of our credit repair policy. One must first determine it their debt is part of the settlement that ERC came to with the government.