Need Advise on Potential Report Dispute

[mAndrew1980]

Hello every one. I'm new to the forums and have actively spent the past two years trying to rebuild my credit. I last pulled my credit on 4/29/11 and saw my three scores were 638, 652, and 669. My overall listed debt was $3,631. Here is the crux of my problem:

Back around 2005, I owed the local utility company $2,185.00. They ended up sending me to a collection agency. Years later when I started paying off the debt, I paid the utility company directly. At the time I pulled my credit in April '11, I had paid the debt down to $1,188.00. However on my report, I had both the $1,188.00 with the utility company AND the $2,185.00 to the credit agency. When I spoke to the billing dept of the utility company, they said both would fall off (or be reported as paid) on my credit report when the bill was fully paid.

As of today, the debt is now paid down to $688.00, so I'm getting close. I'd like to see what my credit report looks like but I don't want an inquiry. If I can get the collection agency's $2,188.00 off my report, that would bring my overall debt down well below 1000.00. What is the best way to go about handling this situation? Do I write letters to the credit bureau's directly and dispute this? Should I bite the bullet and run my credit and see if it's still on there?

As far as credit, in April I received an unsecured Capital One with a CL of $300.00. Within the past month my CL has been increased to $500.00. I've made my monthly payments on time and either paid the balance in full or a lot more than the limit. Recently I've been receiving offers from Citi in the mail for credit cards. I'd love to start getting some real credit cards and establishing legitimate relationships. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[kjm79]

Pulling your own credit reports will not hurtyour score or count as an inquiry.  And if the collction is valid and reporting correctly, you shouldn't dispute it.  Once it's paid off entirely, then you can send goodwill letters asking them to delete.  But as long as it's valid and reporting correctly, there's nothing to dispute.