FAQs

1. I do not want to go to Court. How do I avoid having to appear?

You should speak to your own attorney to review your options.  If you choose to represent yourself, you may avoid the entry of a judgment on Plaintiff’s Petition by paying the full amount.  The case would be dismissed upon confirmed receipt of funds (which may take 10 days).  Otherwise, you should plan to appear in Court or discuss the matter with your own attorney.

2. I owe the bill and I want to pay in full. Who do I pay and how?

Go to the BW consumer portal, pay.bw-llp.com.  Or, a cashier’s check or money order may be made payable to:

“Bessine Walterbach, LLP”

Please note your case number or BW account number (we call it “LE number” in reference to our predecessor firm) on the check or money order

Mail to: Bessine Walterbach, LLP 2900 NE 60^th Street, Suite 150 Kansas City MO 64119.

You may also drop off a payment at that address to the exterior lock box (available 24/7) or interior payment drop slot (open during regular hours).   Request a receipt or balance by putting a note with your payment.  BW is closed to the public; there is no receptionist and no admittance.

3. I would like to make a settlement offer to resolve the debt. How do I do that?

You should speak to your own attorney to review your options.  If you choose to represent yourself, please visit the BW portal, pay.bw-llp.com to view your balance and options.  You may communicate with us there or you may otherwise send us something in writing telling us your name, case number, why you would like to settle the case, when and for how much.  BW will process your request and attempt to get you a response, generally in 3 – 10 business days, but may be longer.  Portal will have the faster response time.

4. I owe the bill, but I cannot pay in full. What do I do?

You should speak to your own attorney to review your options.  If you choose to represent yourself, please visit the BW portal, pay.bw-llp.com to view your options.  BW regularly works with people to set up payment arrangements over time.  The minimum monthly payment varies, but will be stated on the BW portal.  If you believe you cannot afford the minimum monthly payment stated, please use the contact center at the portal to request a Special Consideration Application (“SCA”).  After we send that to you & you return it to us, your case will be specially reviewed by staff and/or an attorney.  Understand that this is for the purpose of attempting to collect a debt, and the information obtained may be used for that purpose.  You are not obligated to fill out this form, it is strictly voluntary.  You may choose to proceed in any number of ways other than filling out this form, including speaking to your own attorney or viewing self-service options at the BW payment portal.  The button to download the fillable PDF SCA form is on this FAQ page.

5. I set up payment arrangements or made an agreement to resolve the case. Do I still have to go to court? If I don’t go, will a warrant be issued for my arrest?

You should speak to your own attorney to review your options.  If you choose to represent yourself, you must make your own decision about what you want to do.  If you received a summons to appear in court, please read it carefully.  Unless the case is dismissed prior to the court date, the case will be called and at that time it is your right to appear in court to be sure your interests are being protected.  We do not recommend that you miss court.  However, we understand you may not want to go.  The decision to appear or not is yours, and yours alone.  BW cannot say specifically what will happen to your case in court, that is legal advice only your own attorney can give you.  In most cases, absent payment in full, a prior agreement to continue, an appearance by the defendant or a legal defense properly raised, we typically would seek a judgment.  If we have agreed to a payment arrangement with you, we will honor that agreement before and after a judgment is entered.  If regular payments are timely made, no legal action upon the judgment is taken to collect what is owed, you simply continue making your payments. If a payment is late or is missed, legal action upon the judgment to collect the balance may be taken.  BW generally does not request the issuance of warrants for a single missed court date in civil cases like these.

6.Does this show up on my credit report? How is my credit affected?

Only an attorney that represents you could accurately answer this question.  You should speak to your own attorney to review your options.  BW cannot give any legal advice as to how your interests might be affected in this regard.  BW does not furnish or remove any data to credit reporting agencies.

7. Do I really have to pay interest and court costs?

You should speak to your own attorney to review your options.  If you choose to represent yourself, you may do so.  BW clients claim you owe these amounts because money has a time value and refusal or delay in payment has forced the Plaintiff to file with the Court, incurring additional costs.  For example, a claim for court costs is usually made because those have been prepaid by Plaintiff.  BW does not add hidden costs or fees – the charges are all as itemized in the letter you received and as stated again in the petition you were served.  Interest may accrue according to applicable statutes or contracts.

8. You have a garnishment on me but I would rather make payments instead. Can I do that?

You should speak to your own attorney to review your options.  Once a garnishment is requested, issued, and served upon the garnishee, BW typically does not release the garnishment.  However, to stop the garnishment, you may pay in full by certified funds or make payment in full at the BW portal, pay.bw-llp.com.  You may view your balance at that site, or you may call the office to get a final payoff amount for the date you intend to pay.

9. I called and nobody answers or I left a voicemail but nobody called me back. What gives?

We receive many phone calls every day. First, check BW phone hours as we turn off phones for lunch.  Second, if you are calling to resolve the matter, it may be quicker to view your account and make a payment arrangement at the BW portal, pay.bw-llp.com.  If you feel a phone call is needed, BW has an automated agent and numerous phone lines to assist callers. After you listen to a brief recorded message, provided your call is during phone hours, the automated agent will triage your call.  For calls that need escalation, a BW staff member will answer and assist you.  If you are transferred and arrive at a voicemail inbox, please leave a message with a case number and a good time to call you back. It is BW policy to return a call on all voicemails. However, when calling back, for legal reasons BW does NOT leave voicemails in return.  In most circumstances we will call back only once.  The portal is the most effective means of communication in most circumstances.

If you have not heard back from BW within two business days, please communicate with us on the consumer portal, pay.bw-llp.com.

We handle thousands of cases.  If you are trying to reach us 24 – 48 hours before your court date, you probably have not allowed sufficient time for us to respond appropriately to your question(s) or issue(s).  You should appear in court as scheduled.

10. Can I pay online or make other electronic payments?

Yes, please visit pay.bw-llp.com.

11. Will you send me a monthly bill reminding me of my payment?

The portal will send automated confirmations of activity and payment reminders to your email.  For check, cash or money order payments, our staff may provide you with a Payment Instruction Sheet upon request but will not send payment reminders at each payment interval.

12. What’s my balance? Can I get a receipt?

Please visit pay.bw-llp.com for that information.  For check, cash, or money order payments, you can get your balance or a receipt by putting a note with your payment asking for what you want and giving us your email address for response.  Or you can email admin@bw-llp.com, include your LE #, and we’ll respond.  Or you may call the office.