Blog


I’m Being Sued by Midland Funding! What Should I Do?
April 5, 2021

Have you received a debt collection letter from Midland Funding, LLC? Or maybe you received a complaint or court notice from Midland Credit Management (MCM)? You may ask yourself “Who are these people? I didn’t buy anything from any company called Midland!” When credit card debt, auto loans, bank debts and other consumer debts go unpaid, the holders of the debts often sell them to third-party debt buyers. If you didn’t pay your credit card, it’s a good bet that the credit card company sold it to a debt buyer. Midland Funding is one of the biggest debt buyers in… Read More

Event Revenue Losses Due to Covid-19
March 15, 2021

Events are big business here in Florida and across the country, but the pandemic has hit them hard. Many large sporting events, big concerts and events of all kinds have been canceled, postponed or downscaled. Those who run the events and their staffs are not the only ones affected.  Industries that serve people who attend events such as hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and an array of vendors also suffer. Let’s see how organizers are coping with event revenue losses due to Covid-19. Adaptations for Events During the Pandemic Social Distancing Many events have been canceled, but some event managers are… Read More

How to Get by During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Florida
March 2, 2021

In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, many are still suffering financial losses here in the Tampa Bay area and across the country. It can be hard to just get by during the Covid-19 pandemic. Beyond government help, there are things you can do on your own to help you through the pandemic. Let’s take a look at how the economy stands, some things you can do to dial down financial pressure off and things you can do to be prepared if and when the most recent stimulus package becomes law. The Economy Now Here’s where we are: In 2020,… Read More

New Limitations on Debt Collection Are Coming: We’ve Boiled It Down
February 1, 2021

If you are struggling with debt, you will want to know about the latest debt collection limitations rules released  on December 18, 2020, that cover Information debt collectors must reveal to you about your debt When debt collectors can add information to consumer credit reports Limits on actions regarding debts that are past the statute of limitations for litigation Last month we told you that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), after seven years of preparation, was releasing the Final Rule of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The Final Rule was released in three parts, and last month… Read More

Ziegler Diamond Law: Debt Fighters – New Name, Same Dedication to Helping Consumers Overcome Debt Problems
January 22, 2021

January 22, 2021 – Clearwater, FL– The Law Office of Michael A. Ziegler: Debt Fighters, a Florida law firm that helps consumers overcome debt problems, announced today the appointment of partner Kaelyn Steinkraus Diamond to shareholder partner. The firm will now be known as Ziegler Diamond Law: Debt Fighters. “Kaelyn’s passion and expertise for protecting our clients from illegal debt collecting activities have made her a tremendous asset to the firm,” said Managing Partner Michael Ziegler. “I am proud to have her name appear next to mine.” Mrs. Diamond first began working at the firm as a law clerk in… Read More

Is Debt Parking Ruining Your Credit?
January 18, 2021

Last month, we advised you to check your credit report throughout the year. But you are not only checking for errors. One of the things you are looking for is whether you may be a victim of debt parking, sometimes referred to as passive debt collection. When you check your credit report, you may find it contains mistakes that indicate delinquent debts that you already paid or never owed at all. Those faulty debts are not always caused by mistakes. Unethical debt collection companies have been placing fake debts on consumer credit reports for the sole purpose of coercing payment… Read More

Congrats to Our Financial Planning Scholarship Winner – Payton Myles
January 13, 2021

It is with great enthusiasm that we announce out 2nd scholarship winner.  The Debt Fighters support an academic scholarship contest for students who share a time in their life where they learn the importance of financial planning and discuss their financial plan going into the future. Peyton Myles, a student based in California, started her own dance company at 17 years old, and has taken much of the profit from her business and dedicated it to charity.  In the meantime, she works at the local hospital and is interning at a law firm.  Her essay shows incredible attention to financial… Read More

Can Debt Collectors Use Social Media? What You Need to Know
January 4, 2021

The law governing consumer debt collection is changing. For starters, third-party debt collectors will soon be able to contact you on social media. Just what we all wanted, debt collectors friending us on Facebook. But there’s a whole lot more. For seven years, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been working on the Final Rule to apply the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.  Whether you know it or not, if you are one of the 68 million American adults in debt collection, this will have a big impact on you. The National Law Review calls these updates “the most significant… Read More

Improve Your Credit Score, Improve Your Life
December 14, 2020

You are probably tired of hearing about the importance of checking your credit score regularly. But an ostrich with their head in the sand is an easy target for lions, and if you are not regularly checking your credit reports, you may fall prey to increasingly worse financial difficulties. What Is a Credit Score? A credit score is a number used to convey how likely you are to repay lenders or become delinquent. Usually people are talking about a FICO score (developed by Fair Isaac Corporation), but there are other measurements. The big three credit agencies all use FICO scores… Read More

Just Do It! Your Year-End Financial Review
December 1, 2020

We are near the end of the financial year for individuals, and it’s time to bite the bullet and review your personal finances. You should be checking and organizing your finances on a monthly basis, and your year-end financial review should be based on these monthly check-ins. But there are certain aspects you want to carefully review before the year-ends to see the big picture:  where you are, where you want to be and what changes you need to make. Let’s face it, not everyone carefully takes stock of their finances every month. If you are in debt, you may… Read More