HOW TO ensure the removal of fraudulent debt from my Credit reports

[davesnite]

Background info (with drama attached)

My first marriage ended in 2004 in which i had to move out of the family home. I also had to file for bankruptcy later due to my 'lovely' first wife-'Gertrude' ( the mother of my kids).
Last year August 2011, I started to get hammered by a debt collection agency for a debt of $752.
It was money owed to Comcast cable company.
I called Comcast directly to find out that back in 2004 the lovely Gertrude had continued to USE my name on the cable bill. Apparently she had racked up huge debts (once again) and the cable acct was closed.
She did return ALL of the cable equipment which brought the debt down to $143.
Being that she legally went back to her maiden name and began a new cable acct at the house she has no intentions in paying off the debt.
This debt has been HURTING my credit score especially since I have been slowly rebuilding it after my bankruptcy.
I WILL pay off the fraudulent debt but how do i do this with ASSURANCE that the bad report is REMOVED from my credit scoring?
The cable company said that i should come directly to their offices and pay it off and then maintain the documentation for proof for the credit bureau.

Ive heard that there is a way of making a deal with the collection agency itself in which they would remove the debt off all three reports .

I have not heard from the agency since Oct 2011.

Please help with the right advice,,we (the good wife and I ) NEED to get this done. We want to buy a home next year Thanks

 

[davesnite]

Just to add, I was very recently turned down for a personal unsecured loan from my credit union due directly to Gertrude's DEBT...only

 

[mightymoose]

It sounds like it was your debt.... you should have taken accounts out of your name when you moved out.
If you pay the bill you may be able to negotiate with the collection agency that the status of the the account be upgraded. Do not make a payment until you have such a guarantee in writing. You will not likely get the account removed altogether, but you can get it to show with a status that is not harmful to you.

 

[davesnite]

Hey 'Moose thanks for the response. Just to clarify things-
"It sounds like it was your debt.... you should have taken accounts out of your name when you moved out"
I left the house in 2004 , a debt owed in 2011 at that address certainly wasn't of my creation. Yes, i should have made sure that my name was OFF that acct but in the real world when your going thru a 'perfect storm' ,having to move away from your two young children, a cable acct is the last thing you would think about.
That being said ,yes legally YEARS LATER, I am being held responsible to pay it off -which i will.
I probably would win in small claims suit against her, but you know just how much of a waste of time that would be.

I appreciate your advice, it sounds very sound. Ill follow through with it and update the forum. Thanks 'Moose