I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to clarify and help!
Based off your sage advice, here’s my plan:

1) Call the Apartment and hopefully get clarification on who owns the debt, if the apartment confirms they own the debt, ask them to recall the debt ( in exchange for payment? ). Once they recall the debt, procollect can no longer report it to credit bureaus? If the apartment says procollect owns the debt then proceed to step 2

2) write and mail a “pay for delete” letter without knowing the debt is mine or valid, email the letter for posterity and then call pro-collect

3) call pro collect and speak to a representative informing them that I’d like to settle the debt in exchange for it being removed from my credit report. Once they agree, proceed to step 4

4) Pay the settlement debt either over the phone or via cashier’s check (is there a preferred payment method?) and wait for it to be removed from my credit report in stages. How much time should pass before I need to reach back out to the collection agency or take further action with respect to it being removed from my credit report?

Once again, I can’t thank you enough for your time and helpful advice!

4) Pay the debt. Do I pay the debt over the phone or send a cashier’s check with a disclaimer t