Collection legal timelines

What is the name of your state? GA

I am a cosigner on an apartment lease where the principle owed rent. On 04/2002 they turned this debt over to collection agency. I was not notified at that time by either party. On May 13, 2002, I receive notice from collection agency. May 28, 2002, I receive 2nd notice indicating they would enter collection on CR if not taken care of. I contacted them by phone and indicated I needed to research the debt and would pay soon. On 7/3/2002 I paid debt and they said it would not appear on credit report. However, entry appeared on CR with status date 7/2002 and paid. They refuse to remove entry. Do I have any recourse to get entry removed?

[JETX]

"However, entry appeared on CR with status date 7/2002 and paid. They refuse to remove entry. Do I have any recourse to get entry removed?"
*** What EXACTLY does the 'entry' say?
And what is not correct in the 'entry'??

The entry on my credit report says "paid".

There is nothing in error on the entry. They told me when I paid the debt that it would not appear on my credit report. I believe they posted the collection to my credit report the day I paid it.
That is my issue and question. How long before I get a notice about the debt does the collection agency have to wait before posting to my CR?

[JETX]

The only responsibility that the creditor (reporter) has is that the record be accurate. Based on your post, it appears that is the case. You have paid the debt, and the record shows paid.

"How long before I get a notice about the debt does the collection agency have to wait before posting to my CR?"
*** There is no requirement for any notice before a credit action is reported. Most of the large creditors send an electronic tape in periodically (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly.... whatever is that creditors policy).

Based solely on the information contained in your post, I don't see anything that the creditor would be required to do by statute. The FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) gives you the right to request an investigation into any reported record in order to correct it, but your own post says that it is not in error.