contract-law
Do I have to pay my debt collector if I collect my debt myself?
<p>I setup an account with a debt collection service. The collectors will collect my debt for a percent taken from the owed amount. If I sue my client for unpaid debt and win a summons proceeding, do I have to pay my collector? Nothing to this effect was written in the collector's contract between us.</p>

<p>The answer lies in the contract itself. Double check your contract. Most of the times, these contracts are <strong><em>exclusive</em></strong>. Meaning, you do have to pay them. That, or they outright buy the debt from you and you don't own it anymore. That said, I will take your statement "<em>Nothing to this effect was written in the collector's contract between us.</em>" to mean the question of you collecting your own debt is not referenced at all by the contract. In that case...</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>If it's not in the contact, I don't think you have to pay them.</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>The principle of <strong><em>ei incumbit probatio qui dicit</em></strong> (<em>proof lies on him who asserts</em>) seems to apply here.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: I'm not an attorney. Consult a real attorney before you do anything based on this answer.</em></p>
