Hmmm, understood tax law and definition is different than national security. It would seem if the government treated the charge off as income, and you paid tax on this amount…it would then constitute settled debt. But one definition for an agency isn’t applicable to the next. Certainly I would tell an applicant to speak to it on the form. I would like to know if the credit score had since recovered. We had several clearances held up for people with 800 credit scores, current credit agencies showed no record of an uncollected and challenged debt to Sprint. Yet the BI person had a report showing the amount. If a consumer cannot get access to see the debt and the scores are in near perfect range…again I would consider it a settled matter. Of course demonstrating over time one is not reliable for things they charged paints a bigger picture, not willing to follow established rules of society, etc.
I love interacting and learning on this forum. I thank all of you for making me a better FSO. It is good to find concurrence in interpretation, but dare I say, when challenged…and I learn I was wrong…those are the ones that stand out. I appreciate those moments in life.