+1
If the OC has sold the debt to a debt collector, they cannot receive payment. Thus, your only option would be to pay the debt collector, which has the benefit of eliminating an unpaid delinquent debt and terminating thier collection.
The charge-off was reported by the OC, and only they can delete its reporting. They did not charge-off the debt to the debt collector, they charged-off the debt against their assets in their accounting ledger. The debt collector has no involvement in the fact of the CO by the OC. Thus, the CO would be addressed by request for a GW deletion sent to the OC.
It's impact is serious in that it is their reporting that you are not expected to pay the debt. As long as it remains unpaid, your lack of attention to the debt, regardless of to whom paid, reinforeces that prior perception that you dont pay your debt. Credtors are apprehensive in extending credit to a consumer who does not pay their debt.
The peril in leaving the collection unpaid is the potential for legal action on their part if still within SOL. That can be dealt with by paying prior to any court date.
I would definately place priority on the debt to the IRS.
