Why would you pay a debt that you possibly weren't responsible for? Did you read your Divorce Decree?
I hope you realize that you paid these bottom-dwellers 99 times what they paid for the debt. Sure they would work with you, since everything over 1 or 2 cents is profit.
I hope you "feel better" that you did this. I know they are laughing at you right now for being conned.
You are a liar and shill for the company.
Paying a debt does NOT 'remove it from your record' It drops off after 7 years automatically and you know this. Stop misleading people.
You absolutely got taken! Don't you know tht you can't be arrested for bad debts. This is not the middle ages. Also, what they did is illegal under the FDCPA.
Just answer this; Would the police call you and tell you to wait there while they come to arrest you? A collection agency calls you, threatens you that you are going to be arrested, and you panic, and pay them!!
What's wrong with that picture?
What frustrates me with most people is take some time and read what the law is, and you will find out that the law is in the consumer's favor.
Don't you know that Debt Collectors don't have the ability to remove items from your Credit Report?
You just made an entry to you credit report that will remain there another 7 years by starting the clock over. The entry will probably read,
"Settled for less than original amount". I sure that will improve your Credit Score.
In the future understand how long an item can remain on your credit report and also what the Statute of Limitations is in your State.