Must a Collection Agency Honor a Pay for Delete Agreement?

[Debt364]

My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Texas

First I want to say this is a very helpful forum and I would appreciate any info I can get.

I live in Texas and rented an apartment with a room mate. My room mate left, and I moved out as well breaking the lease agreement. The amount we owed was then sent to a collection agency.

My room mate informed me she was in no way going to pay her half.

Several months later when I had money to actually pay I contacted the collection agency and asked if they would agree to a written agreement for the following

1. That if I paid half (50%) of the amount owed I would be released from the other half of the debt.

and

2. That they would delete the collection from my 3 credit reports.

They agreed to this and sent a written (and signed) agreement to me that stated if I paid 50% I would be released from the other half of the debt, and that they would "completely delete" from the 3 credit reports.

So I paid them 50%. After I paid the 50% they also sent a letter confirming payment and saying they would delete and that I was "released in full" from the other half of the debt.

Now several months later the following has happened

*They have not deleted from my credit reports

*They are still reporting on my credit reports that I owe half of the amount

I have disputed my 3 credit reports. One credit agency has deleted, the other two have not because the collection agency has validated what they are reporting to them.

I have contacted the debt collector and they have told me that it doesn't matter what they agreed to - they can still report that I owe the other half and they do not have to delete.

So my question is this - is this true? Or must they legally honor the agreement that they made with me?

Also - I have a group legal plan from work that covers debt collection matters. I have never actually used this plan, but if they are legally required to honor this agreement would contacting a plan attorney be my next move?

Thanks for any information!

[divemedic]

You can sue them for FDCPA violations, FCRA violations, and for breach of contract. Get an attorney, and go for punitive damages under the FCRA.

[lwpat]

Agreed. Some group legal plans are good and some are not but start with having them write a letter. If it is the good one the advice and letter are free.