<prompt> Human: Hi PF,So Ive never dealt with a collection agency before. Ive got a collection agency that claims to have two medical bills for me, one for 27 and one for 24. I dont recall receiving notices on these, and have always paid any bills Ive received, but I wont say its impossible that I missed it. Its also worth noting that they only have my old address. The collection agency does not have my current address.I told the collection agency that while I have no knowledge of these bills, I have no problem with paying them on one condition: They give me something in writing which states that it will not go on my credit report.They refuse to do this. They insist that it wont get reported on credit reports because the amount is too small, but they adamantly refuse to provide me any sort of documentation. They offered to fax me a list of accounts owing, or mail me a list of accounts if I will give them my current address, but refuse to give me anything in writing that says it wont go on my credit report. Their exact words were, We will never do that.Note: At least one of these is over two years old. I had this exact same exchange with the collectors a year ago and told them Id pay them the moment they sent me a fax guaranteeing it wouldnt go on my credit report, and they stopped calling me back for a year.After refusing to send me the fax, I said Then its your loss, as Ill happily pay as soon as you give me something in writing that it wont be on my credit report. She replied, No, thats your loss, because were going to keep it here and keep collecting interest, and then hung up on me.My credit is very important to me and is pristine. Is it safe for me to pay these collectors? Im very uncomfortable with the fact that they wont give me something in writing, even if they insist it wont get reported.  <response>: They are required to show you proof of the debt. Until they do that, they arent even worth talking to. 