I hope so, I will try getting ahold of them tonight, and I really appreciate all the help! 
one last quick thing though - is what the other poster said true? Even though I paid it way before it would have gone to collections, and it hadn't ever been sent to collections prior to this, can they leave this on my report for 7 years due to the late payment to OC back in '05? Because although I can prove that I don't actually owe them anything I can't prove it's been more than 7 years since I was late on paying my electric bill (I missed payment in Dec. '04 and January '05 - paid it off at the end of January). That is worrying me a bit.
Hi JBoswell, I'm sorry I worried you or confused you. By all means, I didn't mean to. Lets see, if I can explain it better this time.
My mind was jumping forward, just thinking about the CA. Not thinking about you already Paid it, that was my fault,sorry.
One of your post said, was in default prior to 2005. I was thinking 2004, and CA report for 7-7.5years, it should be drop off your CR soon,like 2011.Your EX CR should show the date of removal.
The OC may have turned the debt over to the CA, at the same time you paid it.
And the OC just didn't correct your account at the time and didn't tell the CA that you have paid already.
I have read that sometimes a OC will collect for the CA, and turn the funds over to the CA.Wether that's legal or not IDK.But if that happened, it would have reported as a Paid CA. I don't think, that is what happened to you,because it's reporting the orginal amount. Maybe the OC or the CA were just updating some old account information or something.
It's hard to understand each other, when we just pass messages back and forth to each other here in the forums.So you did the right thing, to ask me or others to explain what I said alittle bit more.
After you contact the OC, please keep us informed.
For lurkers.....For final electric bills, make sure it states just that....Final bill. And keep it forever.
You never know, you may need to show the proof you paid it.
Thanks Lightnin, I just didn't get what you were saying at first and of course went directly into panic mode
So, here's my update, I called National Grid (OC) last night and they completely denied sending this account to collections, ever. At the time, and definitely not after it was paid, but because of that they said there wasn't anything they could do and I would have to contact the CA directly... if they didn't give them the account they can't make them remove it. What I didn't notice originally though (too busy panicing) was that the collection item on my report actually shows as "paid/closed" I'm now worried that even if I wanted to argue that I paid National Grid directly, BEFORE they date they claim to have acquired this, they will just be like "oh... well, it shows as paid, you're saying it's paid, so what's the problem?" I don't know, perhaps I'm just overly distrustful of these companies. It was an uphill battle trying to recover the total credit ignorance of my college days. It took a long time and a lot of work to fully repair my credit, and now years later, when I think I'm out of the woods I've got this random collection popping up for an account that never even went to collections that I paid off half a decade ago, and it's just so frustrating, like I will never REALLY get ahead of this stuff.
What should I do? I'm a little nervous to engage the CA directly, especially because right now, this item looks totally inaccurate. I can prove I paid National Grid in 2005... which pre-dates when they claim to have received this account (in April, 2010) and ALSO preceeds when they say this account went into default (June, 2006), but if I engage them, could they just go change the dates to make it look like what I'm talking about? Then any argument I might have would be moot. Since they show it as paid I don't really have any leverage, and they don't really have anything to gain by hearing me out. I truly have never heard of this company, never paid them any money, and with the OC denying they ever gave them this account I'm at a loss as to what avenues I have to get this removed. Again, any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
(edited for typos)
Since you dont want to contact the CA, and getting nowhere with the OC, try the CRA.
Send what proof you have and explain that you paid the OC and not the CA, so the CA shouldnt be on your CR.
I dont know if that will work but worth a try, I have read that it does work sometimes. Keep us updated.
ETA: Or ask the CA, to prove that you paid them and if they cant, demand a delete.
