Hi. About 8 to 9 years back i used to live in an apartment complex. When i moved out of the apartment in 2001, i was told to make some payment about carpet damage to the management. The payment was made in full, at the 1st request. But despite it the apartment company still reported it to a collection agency, and the collection agency reported it to credit burea and i was never told anything about it whatsoever by the apartment or the collection agency. Sum 7 to 8 years later, when i check my credit report for the first time, i discover that my credit score is 682 and there is one & only one negative claim, by this collection agency. I contacted the apartment company & the collection agency but got no response. They ignored my letters, never returned any phone calls or said that they'd get back later but never did. Meanwhile this thing remains on my credit report. I contacted a lawyer and he says he will need $800 payment for him 2 help me out. $800 is 2 much 4 me. what should i do?