Dealing with Collections Agency

[girleen99]

What is the name of your state? NY

I have been having a dispute with the gas company in CT. It's a long story, but everyone in my building at the time had the same dispute with them. Nonetheless, they sent the account to collections. After much back and forth with the collection agency and the gas company, I have offered to pay what they claim I owe in exchange for a removal of the account from my credit report, just because it would be the cheaper resolution for me and I need the negative account off my reports.

After first stating that they did not do deletions unless their client first authorized a deletion (but the client would only give authorization after full payment was received), a supervisor finally agreed to delete the account, but only after I send payment and they will not give me a conditional deletion letter, only a deletion letter and reciept after they receive payment. They claim they only have a deletion letter that is computer generated and don't and won't send a conditional deletion letter (i.e., If I send full payment, they will delete the account).

I am leery that they will not memorialize the agreement in writing prior to me making the payment by Western Union. By paying, am I leaving myself open to the possibility that they won't delete the account and then I would have to try to enforce an oral contract against the collection agency in court?

QUESTION: Should I send payment or take other recourse?

[Debt Guy]

tape record the phone call