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Gosh, I wish I had discovered your website last year! Last year, I settled a debt, and that settlement is still on my credit report. They never reported me as always paid on time, or any of that (I didn't even know to ask!). Is there any hope for me? I figure since I paid out to debt, I can't really ask them to prove it's mine. I mean, I gave them my bank account number and everything (haha). The original debt was through Wachovia bank, but it was later sold to a collection agency, so would they still be required to send me a copy of my signature?

As always, I'm not a professional, and my advice might be bad.

I settled debts with collection agencies without knowing that, either.
When I sent the letter to my credit agencies still listing that debt,
I said something to the effect of "this should be listed as paid, can
you please investigate this for me?" It didn't work every time, but
it worked at least half the time on the first letter, without going to
"prove it's me" or anything like that.

Probably is worth writing that first letter, and just ask the credit
agency to confirm that it's a valid debt, and see how it goes.