Making payments on a collections account?

That is not true. A paid delinquent debt is better than an unpaid delinquent debt. The information on your credit report is supposed to be accurate. If it isn't, you can contest it. Meaning once you pay the debt, it should show as paid.

You have partial correct information...

When a debt leaves the original creditor and goes to a collection agency, they could work it on consignment or as a debt buyer. Regardless, while both the Original Creditor and the CA can report, only 1 can report the BALANCE to the bureaus.

The first thing that you want to do is validate the accuracy and completeness of the debt...this should be done in writing through the bureaus and the collection agency. If they respond and provide proof of the debt, go to the next step...

Make sure that the collection agency is registered or bonded in your state if necessary...Don't pay someone who is operating illegally

Check the statute of limitations on debt collection in your state. Don't pay something that is out of statute or out of the obsolescence period (more than 7 years old from the time you made the last payment)

Determine if you can make arrangements with the original creditor, if that makes sense.

Paying off a third party debt collector will not help your credit scores

The older the account gets, the less of an impact it will have on credit score.

seek the advise of a professional...

That is only half right.

If you don't pay, then in addition to showing that it was a charge off by the original creditor, it will ALSO show that you have a debt in collections that has not been paid. That is actually much worse. Paying is not pointless. Paying does not help with what the original creditor reported, but it does help with what the collection agency report, which is actually much more important. This goes way beyond credit scores. In many situations, anything, even just one penny, that is in collections and hasn't been paid, will cause an automatic denial/rejection.

yes. i definitely wouldn't pay anything that went to collections more than 2yrs ago. The damage has already been done

It does show on report as paid once paid (get this agreement in writing). The charge off will still who on the original, yes.

No, that's not how it works. Collection agencies do not buy the debts. They are hired to try and collect for the creditor. If they are unable to over a period of usually several months, then the original creditor sues the debtor. That is how it usually works and it does go on your credit report. Sometimes, a creditor will sell the debt and then another creditor will own it and demand payment but, that deal is separate from any collection efforts by a collection agency.

Not true, while it is true that the payments don't show up, once it's paid they show it as paid in full on your credit. And that helps your score.

That's why people focus on keeping new accounts in good standing first, then work on delinquent debt. Once it's paid off, it will show as paid, but no, it will not change the fact that you were once delinquent.

First, you should ask for in witting of the debt in question. You should then check with your Sec of State in your state, to see if the debt is collectible. You could also check with the Fair Debt Collection Act.
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/rules/rulemaking-regulatory-reform-proceedings/fair-debt-collection-practices-act-text

This unfortunately is true; and it takes a lot to change your credit report because chances are 99 to 1 against the credit reporting company making any changes no matter how you try.