What is Step 2?

Um, why are you requesting validation on an account you paid?

 

Some people have had success in treating paid collections the same as unpaid...it does not seem to matter which way anyone decides to approach a paid collection. I would dispute with the CRAs next and then if you must, become a PITA to the CA. CAs seem to disappear after they have their money, but of course there will always be the stubborn ones. Maybe you will get lucky and it will fall off after you dispute it with the CRAs.

 

The dispute would be based on what?

 

If I understand the strategy correctly, either:

1) Based on the fact that the OP is hoping the CA either won't want to bother or can't validate, in which case the TL is removed, or

2) Based on the CA not wanting to bother fighting something so small that is already paid if you come off as readily willing to sue, for whatever reason.

I know I am about to adopt reason 2 for three CA listings for utilities I never knew about. No one sent me any final bills after I moved and CA never tried to contact me.

Unfortunately, I paid them before I found this site and had never heard of a PFD when I paid them. Mine were for $97, $93 & $37. $97 to the power company after I moved away from Richmond, VA, $93 from a cable company after the same move, and $37 from the same cable company after I moved within Richmond. Dumba$$es open a new account for you when you move to the other side of the river within the same city.

I would think the cost that will need to be borne by bothe the CA's and the OC's just to validate these puny accounts should be enough to have them just delete the TL's, otherwise, they very well might spend more than they received to validate...

Oh, and you can fight it for any reason you want. You can simply state (as is the case in my situatuation) that you merely paid the accounts to get rid of them because they were so small, but when they remained on your credit, well now you want full verification that the debts exist at all.

 

When you dispute online, you have to select which dispute best and accurately describes why you are disputing the account. Such as, "not mine" "paid prior to collection" "included in bankruptcy" etc. When you sumbit the dispute you have to agreed that the statements are truthful as to the validity of the dispute. You cant just dispute them because you dont want them reported any longer, there isnt an option for that. It's a valid and correct tradeline.

 

And one option is "Moved, never received bill." When I disputed online, they came back as "Valid", but I can still directly dispute with the CA's, especially since I haven't seen any verification of the debt.

Not to mention that the options they provide are far from complete, in which case, if your reason for disputing is not an available option, you can select the option that best fits, even if not 100% true. Of course, if your option is missing, I'd imagine you're better off disputing in writing...

 

If your conscience is bothering you

When you dispute, say "other" and write in the blank:

"I doubt the accuracy of this entry."

and they'll have to verify all the information. You don't have to lie or cheat, to start the process. Then the ball is in their court. You're just asking that they double check the information. If they do and it's valid and it's reported as such. Now you know (and you can't do that again...for a while). If they don't and it gets changed, cleared, or deleted. Well there you go as well.

It's can be a crapshoot. They might go back and find MORE negative information (like, they might come back with "oops! you're right you were really 60 or 90 days late instead of the 30 like we said before. Thanks for bringing this to our attention!")

You pay your money and you take your chances.

 

Well, there was not much information given by JimG about his details, but I have read threads about people having paid collection accounts that were legitimately not theirs, so it is possible to dispute it as not mine if indeed that is the case. I am not a big fan of disputing online anyhow.

I am also not here to judge others on whatever means they want to use to get a paid collection account off. I look at it as they paid, and that is the most any CA can hope for. And especially if it is for a measly amount like what gmanfsu was talking about, why have a mark on your credit for 7 years if you can get it off. Every day I read about CAs that are not reporting the truth and the way the CRAs handle some cases, they don't always seem to abide by the rules either.