Time Frame for CA Removal

[collectionshelpplease]

Hello everyone, I am new to credit, and made a few newbie mistakes, please help

After receiving collection letters from a CA for unreturned equipment to ATT, I contacted the CA and paid the debt for less than what was due. I had returned the equipment to ATT, but didn't have the UPS drop off. Since I am a student and didn't want my credit score negatively affected, I paid it. The CA said if I paid, that they would remove the account from my credit report. I didn't get this in writing (don't know why I trusted a collection agency!). They didn't, and my credit score took a nose dive. I got into contact with someone at the executive office at ATT, and explained my situation. They agreed to contact the collection agency and have them get rid of the record completely. Does anyone know what type of time frame I am looking at to have it removed? I will be going into my last semester of university, and need to take out a small student loan.

[Lian]

Legally, the OC has no authority to compel the debt collector to report anything to the CRA. It was not the OCs reporting, and thus not their authority to act upon. A gentle push from the OC might help, but responsibility rests solely with the debt collector to handle their own credit reporting issues.

You are in a bit of a catch-22 if the debt collector does not follow through on their oral promise. Yes, they have broken an oral contract, and in the end could be subject to breach of contract litigation, but I am sure you don't want to go that route. Thus, the importance of getting any agreement in writing, should you have to go to court to enforce it.

The catch-22 enters into the picture when you contact the CRA and dispute the non-deletion with them. It is established CRA policy, as set forth in their credit reporting manuals and incorporated into every reporting agreement with those who furnish information to them, that prior reporting is NOT to be deleted based on payment of the debt. So you are, in effect when complaining to a CRA, asking them to enforce something that is directly contrary to their established, written policy.