My question involves collection proceedings in the State of Texas:
I have a few bad debts (one credit card account and one overdrafted credit union account, both that were never paid) that were closed about 10 years ago and charged off by the banks. These debts were incurred when I was in college and was irresponsible with my spending. In any case, I now have a good credit report with no debts in bad standing because my bad debts from over 10 years ago were removed after 7 years of the last transaction.
Now, I am getting phone calls again from collection agencies that have bought up these debts. They are rather small (about $500 each), and I am interested in settling them. However, I fear that if I pay them off, they'll reappear on my credit report as a past due debt that was paid or settled in full. If this is the case, I may have no incentive to pay them off because 1) it may hurt my credit report and 2) I am not liable for them in my state (Texas) anymore
Does anyone have any recommendations on how I should proceed? Am I correct in assuming that by paying them off, they'll reappear on my credit report?
Thanks for the responses.

