Author Archive


Adjudication on the merits means debt collector who sued you cannot credit report on you or continue to collect against you!

So you have been sued by a debt collector (or even an original creditor).  You get the case dismissed with prejudice and then the collector (or creditor) is still collecting against you.  Is this legal or illegal?  What in the world does the expression “adjudication on the merits” mean for you (hint:  its a good thing!). Possibilities when you are sued by a collector in a collection lawsuit Judgment for plaintiff (the one who sued you) Judgment for defendant (you… (Read more)


How to prepare for a Zoom trial

How to prepare for a Zoom trial Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of court cases are now being handled by Zoom or some other type of video conferencing program.  In Alabama, where I practice, almost all of these virtual court meetings are done by Zoom.  What are some steps you can take to make sure you are prepared for your upcoming Zoom hearing or Zoom trial? Make sure you have all the information for your Zoom meeting. Zoom… (Read more)


Mental mindset when a debt collector calls you

Mental mindset when a debt collector calls you Recently, I mentioned having the mindset that a debt collector is knocking on your door.  I wanted to elaborate on this idea some more and give you another way to think about it.  Instead of being scared when the debt collector calls you (which is what they want and expect), turn it into an opportunity.  My phone rings and I answer.  The debt collector confirms who I am, and then says, “This… (Read more)


After you answer a debt collection lawsuit what should your credit report show?

After you answer a debt collection lawsuit what should your credit report show? Once you’ve been sued by a debt buyer such as Midland Funding, Portfolio Recovery, or LVNV, and you’ve filed an answer, what should your credit report show? It’s excellent that you’ve answered the lawsuit. Most people fail to respond, which can be detrimental to you.  So what should the credit report show about this debt buyer? There are a few important things to look for when reviewing… (Read more)


What are debt buyers and what do they have to prove about ownership when they sue me?

What are debt buyers and what do they have to prove about ownership when they sue me? We talk a lot about “debt buyers” in our posts. Since we discuss debt buyers so frequently, I wanted to give you a definition and some examples to help you understand what a debt buyer is.  What are debt buyers? A debt buyer is somebody who claims to buy debt. These are companies like Midland Funding, Midland Credit Management, Portfolio Recovery, and LVNV. … (Read more)