Bad Credit Agency

I got a response from my "pay to delete" request to a credit agency. Is this legit?

I call a collection agency to negotiate a pay to delete. They agreed. I asked for something in writing and this is what they sent me. I wanted to check with someone who knows more about possible loop holes in the wording. Dear Mr. Me Please be advised that we will take the necessary steps to delete the account listed above from your credit file upon receipt of payment in full due to the circumstances involved. Please have payment in our office within ten days or the offer is null and void. If you have any further questions contact us at ......... sincerely, credit agency name. So, is this a legit response to have in writing that says they will delete the account?

Public Comments

1. Go to daveramsey.com and find out what he says. He has a radio and a TV show and knows all about handling these things and his services are free!
2. u do relize that this will not take off the charge off from the original creditor.. just this particular agency ..... I just wanted to make sure you understood that in addition its not hard to get third party deletion ........ They should also state the amount that you settle on so they cant come back and say hey we said the full amount....... you did settle with them right? Your not paying a collector 100% of the debt are you? Kourtnie D. Prosperity Financial, Inc
3. I've very little first hand experience with this, but Kourtnie D seems absolutely correct. This letter is entirely too ambiguous to be much good for anything. I would re-write it to include specific mention of the dollar amount, that payment of the stated dollar amount constitutes final and COMPLETE payment, and the fact that the "credit file" they are referring to is, in fact, Equifax, Transunion and Experian and not some internal "credit file". The one they've sent you doesn't seem to be worth much, does it?
4. This seem to work in USA according to many posters here. But in Canada, the collection agencies and creditors refuse to accept "pay to delete" as it is deemed illegal. They did not even heard of this term and rejected it outright. Even the late payments reported to credit bureaus cannot be removed since they are factual.
5. i wouldn't do it, There is no such thing and if there is its illegal. The legal way is effective and works you can read up on it here http://www.adviceontime.com/Credit/Credit.htm the best part about it is that you can do it yourself and not pay anyone.
6. I've helped many people do this very thing....if this letter is accurate here is my impression. 1) Kourtnie is right, it does lack a number of key points. If this is a large and busy collection agency, it sounds like an "all in one" acceptance form letter designed to save the collection agent some time. 2) I'm suspicious why the agent didn't sign or use their name. 3) "..to the circumstances involved"....wazzat? Call them up and talk to a human....yeah I know, it violates my Rule #1 but it sounds like they want to work with you. Inform them that you will agree but you want a more detailed agreement, on their letterhead, and signed. As an alternative, send them a written outline of your terms, and request that the sign and return it. Be sure that the terms are very clearly spelled out, and that it makes it clear that the payment they receive will be considered "payment in full" for the entire account and you will have no further liabilities to it.