Mysterious collection item on my credit report

I was in USA from 1996-2001. I then left for Canada. I have clean
credit record in both USA
and Canada, or so I thought about it until today.
I have recently come back to US for job and today I went to Verizon
wireless for a cell
phone. As part of application process they checked my credit history
and a derogratory
remark appeared on my credit. I was taken aback completely.

Anyhow I bought a 3-in-1 report from Equifax and found that an unpaid
collection of
$292 is against my name. While the address of the collection agency is
in the same
city where I once lived (which makes it as genuine), the dates are off.
It shows that
the opened date of collection was 11/2002, two years after I left that
city and 18 months
after I left USA.

Anyhow I am worried that I will be screwed in any application like
applying for Apartmet,
bank account. What are the options I have:

Should I talk to the collection agency and see whether it is a genuine
case of missed
payment. If I pay them in fully, can I ask them in writing that they
will remove my name
from the collection bearaue, if that is the only way it will stop
appearing in my credit
report.

Or is there a better way around.

Thanks.

.

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