pull your free credit report from annualcredit.com. look at the accounts listed this account should be there. whatever agency has a balance on the account is the "current" owner of the account. definately send a debt validation letter to whomever owns your account. from there, you can choose to dispute info, settle it, or pay it. i would consider pay for delete first then settle-but thats me. as for your credit score, the negative account will remain there for 7 yr +180 days from delinquency UNLESS its either inaccurate or company accepts pay for delete. good luck..