Creditor vs Collection Agent

Hi All. I have a couple of questions that I hope that everyone will chime in and give me their input. Here is my situation: I have a collection account on my credit report (Experian Only) from Gulf State Credit.

Here is the history: They sent me a collection letter on 11/28/00, I sent a demand for validation, they signed for it on 12/28/01. I have heard nothing. In the meantime, they sold the account the same month they purchased the account to a different collection agency. I sent another validation letter 60 days later, and disputed it with the cra. They verified it as accurate. This was in March or April can't remember. I know I have them on atleast 3 violations. I disputed it again in August, they verified it as accurate. That is my 4th violation.

Here is the funny part. I have never had the company they're representing Sprint. I sent Sprint a letter asking for validation of the debt. I received a letter back telling me to contact Gulf State Credit. Obviously, they don't know Gulf State sold the account the same month they purchased it. I sent the second collection agency a validation. They ignored it so I filed a complaint the the Attorney General of PA. I was sent a letter telling me it would be removed from my credit reports.

As I read the FCPA, it states that after 30 days if the debt is not verified the collection agency must remove it. They can leave it on my credit report while investigating. Thirty days after receiving my request for validation, they must respond or remove the tradeline from my credit report.

Here is my questions:

I know I can go after Gulf State Credit, but can I go after Sprint? I asked them for validation and they refered me to a collection agency that doesn't have the account.

I counted atleast 4 violations of the FDCPA. I asked for validation 2 times, received nothing, and I disputed the tradeline on my Experian report 2 times which they verified as accurate. What responsibilities does the orginal creditor have, once they are notified about a reporting error (not a collection agency but the acutal company. So when I notified Sprint don't they have a responsiblity to respond to my request for validation?

As always, feedback for all would be appreciated.