If you dispute items on your credit report are they removed temporarily while they are being verified by the credit companies?

Disputed items are not removed from your credit report during the period of "verification". If you dispute an entry with a collection agency, they are supposed to notate the disputed account upon their next update. Updating the trade line without that notation constitutes continued collection activity and is a violation of law. There is no such obligation on the credit bureaus themselves. They simply must complete their verification within 30 days from receiving your dispute. If the reporting creditor verified the trade line within that time period, you are informed. If the reporting creditor fails to respond, or does not verify, the trade line is shielded from further reports.