re: Dispute item on credit report (update)

Any chance you had of them deleting it probably went away when you paid the original creditor. You could have held out for a "pay for delete" with the collection agency but now they have absolutely no reason to delete it. You can call and beg and write goodwill letters but that's really your only option. If you dispute it, they will provide documentation showing you had a bill and didn't pay it. I had a similar situation with an old AT&T bill that was sent to an old address that I know I never received. I ended up doing what you did and paid AT&T as soon as I found out about it because they said they would have it removed from my credit report. I had to call the collection agency several times and they finally deleted it. Good luck.