Package is there/not there

[Bryan Hartwell <bryan ashnet com>]

Hi,

I have Red Hat 7.3
I tried to install & uninstall a few packages. After installing I was
unable to erase the package, as it said it was not installed:

rpm -vv --erase --test <package>  tells me the package is NOT installed.

rpm -vv --upgrade --test <package> tells me the package IS installed.

rpm -vv -q -p -i <package> gives me all the info on the package, and
tells me it is not  installed.

I've installed around 4 different packages, and I have this problem with
all of them. I want these packages off my system so that it doesn't
behave in unexpected ways. How can I be sure that it's actually there?
How can I install them later if the system thinks it's already there?

Thanx,
Bryan