[Malum Prohibitum]

Edit: To clarify this is something I will be resolving as future employment will run a credit check. However I'm not going to be bullied or duped into paying an incorrect amount.

I wonder whether the party that purchased the debt has the power to clean up your credit report?

Have you run a credit check on yourself? Is this reported?

It should disappear from your credit report in 7 years. https://www.creditkarma.com/question/do-bad-credit-reports-automatically-come-off-after-7-years