How to remove collection on credit report

I moved from the east to the west coast in March of 2004. I submitted a lease termination notice effective January of 2004. The landlord required 4 months notice. I paid January, February and Moved out March 1. I realized that I had to pay for March and April, but on the day of my move out the Apartment Manager did not accept my March check stating that she had rented my apartment. The moving van pulled away and I started my new life in the West Coast. I rented an apartment in Feb 2005 in the West, having lived with relatives and traveling much of 2004. My credit check at that time, Feb, 2005 did not show anything adverse.

I was recently notified that my personal records had been compromised by a theft of my 401K provider's laptops. I was therefore given a free credit watch with Equifax. At that time, I discovered that the rental company from the East had filed a $2,000 collection against me. I disputed the charge with Equifax and it is recorded as such. I also realized that I never received a check for my security deposit.

Here is my dilemma. Do I seek legal advice here and incur costs to remediate this problem? I would likely have to have legal advice, incurring legal fees in Pennsylvania as well as the state I am now in. By the time I pay for this, I will be close to eating up $2,000. Is it worth it?

Is there any other way to remedy this problem, keeping in mind that I am 3,000 miles away.

Thanks for any help you may give.

[msgny]

Based on what you say here, you could file suit against them (or at least threaten to do so) in small claims court or in regular court; filing in small claims court is easier and requires no attorney...you could try to collect all of the costs and damages that you suffered due to their behavior.

Thank you so much for your response. While this is an excellent idea, the distance of 3,000 miles makes it impossible to do without buying an airline ticket and incurring hotel expenses while pursuing this. The alternative of hiring an attorney will also cost me. I officially disputed this with Equifax and it did not keep me from getting a job, which I thought it might.