<prompt> Human: I have some medical bills I couldnt pay due to financial hardship that went into collections. Now, I have a steady income, want to pay the bills and get them off my credit report or at least downgraded to paid from in collections Unfortunately, they are all in collections now.I read somewhere on rpersonalfinance that it is better to pay the provider. But if a bill is in collections, doesnt that mean collections paid the provider an amount say 50 to own the bill? If you pay the provider, they are getting double-paid and the collections company still believes you owe them money.Or if you prove that you paid the provider, does the collection company get their money back?Whats the best way to proceed?Thanks!  <response>: Just be very, very careful. Paying the original provider if the debt collector has paid in advance for the debt will not satisfy the debt collector. If the collections agency is working on behalf of the organization not having bought the debt outright youre probably okay to pay the provider.Just simply demand that whomever wants payment provides you written notice of the debt being satisfied. Deal with everything in writing - period, end of story. 