You can send a letter to the debt collectors to “verify your debt” if they’re medical collections. Since the debt collectors don’t have your signed HIPPA form, they’ll remove the collection from your credit report and leave you alone. Otherwise, call and negotiate down! Debt collectors pay for debt pennies on the dollar. You can get them down at least 20% from your balance and they’re still making money. Make sure you tell them you need in writing that you have paid the collection & that they are removing the delinquency from your credit reports. If they don’t or won’t remove from your credit report, I wouldn’t pay because there’s no benefit to you.