Bessine Walterbach, LLP CFPB Complaints

2000 Latest Complaints

Date Received	Timely Response	Product	Issue	State / Zip	Submitted Via	Tags
01/28/2020	Yes	Debt collection Other debt	Took or threatened to take negative or legal action Seized or attempted to seize your property	MO 64133	Web
I was served summons to appear in court, for a debt owed to XXXX XXXX XXXX. I went to court XX/XX/XXXX, the judge reduced the amount to {$1800.00}. The attorney told me to contact him to set up a payment arrangement. I called Bessine Walterbach LLP XX/XX/XXXX XXXX, the lady who answered the telephone didnt not state her name, she was rude and talked over me when I asked questions, she hung up on me. I called back, asked for an office manager, I was informed by XXXX they dont have an office manager, she asked how can she assist me. I told her about the rude/unprofessional interaction with the lady I spoke to previously who didnt provide her name. I explained to XXXX I was calling to make payment arrangements. XXXX said their payment arrangement amount is {$200.00} a month. I told her I cant afford that dude to my spouse suffering a XXXX injury and not being able to work. XXXX provided information for the special consideration application, she explained how to retrieve the application and how to submit it. I completed the application, stated why I need to have the amount lowered. I received notification in XXXX ( see attached application ) approving $ XXXX monthly beginning XX/XX/XXXX. There was no information mentioned on the initial application or the payment arrangement approval stating if the payment is late or paid after due date, garnishment proceedings will be implemented. I sent an email see attached, stating I need to make the payment XX/XX/XXXX, I was told I cant make it after the XXXX. I asked what would happen, never got a response, was only told my file is on the attorneys desk for review. I asked will I be notified, no response. I sent an email XX/XX/XXXX, asking about the status, I got no response. I made the payment XX/XX/XXXX. I called the last week of XX/XX/XXXX, but the office was closed due to the holiday and we had bad weather in XXXX XXXX. I made the XXXX payment. My personal and joint bank accounts was garnished XX/XX/XXXX. I couldnt access money in my accounts, cant pay any bills. I called to ask why this occurred, the ladies in the law office were rude and not helpful, one told me XXXX it when I asked for the number for the county court garnishment department. I called the credit union, they told me if the attorney releases the hold, Ill have access to pay my mortgage for XXXX. I told them they wouldnt release the hold. I asked if he has the number for the courthouse garnishment department, he provided me with the number. I took leave from my job for 30 minutes to go file an exemption. I sent an email to the attorney, along with photos and videos asking them to release the hold off the other account so I can pay my house note, the lady was rude and hung up on me when I asked how can they keep my money if I filed for an exemption with the court. The attorney acknowledged they received the {$75.00} dollar payments I made XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX. I was treated unfairly, I made the payment after the due date, but I did make the payment, the attorney accepted it, cashed the postal money order and they still filed for garnishment which I think is unfair practices. I received no documentation stating if the payment isnt made on the due date, garnishment proceedings will be pursued, they need to state this on their payment arrangement forms. The attorney has caused financial problems for me, I had to take out payday and personal loans to get the money to cover the {$1700.00} I owe them. I was treated unfairly. While I was in court, the attorney gave me someone elses court papers, he didnt have a card, told me to call the number on the paper to make payment arrangements. The attorney failed to send me the garnishment papers for my bank account, they only sent the they sent to my employer.
11/02/2021	Yes	Debt collection I do not know	Written notification about debt Didn't receive notice of right to dispute	KS 660XX	Web
Back in XXXX ( not sure of the specific date, but I believe it was XXXX ), I went to get my wisdom teeth pulled out at XXXX XXXX XXXX, and was under my mother 's insurance ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ). I assumed that a bill would be sent to my address of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX KS. However, I never received a bill from XXXX XXXX, and so I assumed that my mother would have handled the bill or that the insurance covered it. I saw the debt on my credit report back in XXXX of XXXX, and I attempted to pay the debt through the collection agency, but I couldn't find the name of the collection agency or a number to reach them. I decided then in XXXX to dispute the debt, hoping that the debt collection agency would reach out with some information to pay the XXXX . I had a job, and could handle the debt, so I wanted to pay it then. However, I never received a first initial letter from the collection agency, and I knew that if a debt was on the credit report, it was turned over to the collection agency ; so I didn't bother calling XXXX XXXX XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a summons from my mother about the debt, and that I owed a lot more than was originally owed due to interest and fees. I tried to call the collection agency, on XX/XX/XXXX, but the office was closed by the time I got off work around XXXX. I sent an email to the one on paper, but it was denied ; so I went to the website and left this email >Hello, I am XXXX XXXX. I received a summons for an XXXX XXXX XXXX account that you apparently hold in your office ; however, I have never received a first initial letter, phone call, or even an email address in regards to this debt. I tried to dispute the account, hoping that this would alert someone in regards to whom handles this debt. I claim to never have personally received a bill from XXXX XXXX XXXX when this first became a balance ( if any bill was sent ), and I claim to have never received any correspondence from you at XXXX XXXX ( or any debt collection agency at all ). I do not know who I was supposed to go to, or how to even reach someone. After checking my credit report ( which I know you can't state whether something can be removed etc ), I saw that this was removed from accounts that I hold, but I received this summons and now I'm confused as to why I'm now receiving information about something. My number, at the time of the date of service, was XXXX, now it is XXXX. My address has been XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, KS XXXX since XXXX, which is why I was confused as to why I didn't receive any correspondence from anyone. My availability is XXXX Mondays through Thursdays XXXX on Fridays. On Fridays, I'll even be available at XXXX to XXXX XXXX. You have my permission to call Monday through Fridays before XXXX. I work from XXXX to XXXX, so leave me a voicemail if you miss me, and I'll make time throughout the day to speak with you in regards to this.< After that, I was sent a reply back that someone would be with me shortly. I am angry that I received a summons, but I've never received a first initial letter in regards to this debt.
03/03/2020	Yes	Debt collection Medical debt	False statements or representation Attempted to collect wrong amount	MO XXXXX	Web
The collection agency failed to notify me of the debt and allow me to settle the debt prior to filing 2 separate lawsuits for the alleged debts less than {$600.00} they received the accounts on the same day from the same debtor that are hospital emergency room bills. Then claim they could not contact me in their filings but other attorneys that surf cases were able to contact me in fact multiple attorneys contacted me to represent me at lease 20. With that being said I contacted Bassine Walterbach via email and certified mail and gave them my PO box so there would be no excuse for them to not contact me though my address is active. They never responded via email. However they did respond to correspondence for verification of the debt with the original creditor of which I don't believe they did but they submitted a slew of debts in their initial response however at this time I had not been served officially They gave me 30 days to respond to the alleged debt and to submit an offer however I didn't because some of the debts had been paid and some could not be verified via the name address and phone number they provided per their verification. I had attended 2 court hearings without being served and they were aware of my presence and I had submitted a request for a continuance prior to the first hearing on the first case requesting the cases be combined and have the same court date and stated the reasons why. After the first two court dates the court did schedule the cases to be heard on the same day however did not combine the cases even though in the record all the alleged debts were received the same day from the same creditor of less than {$600.00}. on one case the alleged debts dated back to the years XXXX and XXXX and were unverifiable via their source they provided to me. The other case the alleged debts dated back to XXXX or XXXX of which when they addressed me before serving me the debts owed were totally different that after they served me and it included a debt from XX/XX/XXXX that had been paid. Furthermore they were adding interest on non interest bearing accounts and it is my belief that the filing of two separate cases is to inflate the amount they could recover in a judgement because it was unnecessary to file two separate cases on such a small amount. I feel they were trying to exploit my poverty because I am poor because my bill they said they verified show payment through XXXX and only people who are retired or on XXXX get XXXX.
06/01/2019	Yes	Debt collection Medical debt	Took or threatened to take negative or legal action Seized or attempted to seize your property	KS 66044	Web
The debt was originally {$900.00} with XXXX XXXX Hospital, XXXX, KS. I was communicating with a woman in their financial department. I sent her information showing that because of my medical conditions and limited income, I could not pay the debt. I never heard anything back. Next thing I know, a lawyer/collection agency is contacting me, Bessine Walterbach, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX . XXXX, XXXX XXXX, MO XXXX, ( XXXX ) XXXX. I went back to the hospital financial office only to find that the woman that was supposed to be handling my case had retired and left my paperwork sitting around. It was passed on to no one, and they claim they don't have the paperwork I sent in. They told me I had to work with the collection agency/lawyer 's office, that they could not take the debt back from them ( which I know is a lie ). The collection agency wanted over {$1100.00}. A woman higher up in the financial office said she would speak with the collection agency and get rid of the extra interest, bringing the debt back down to {$900.00}. She lied. I paid {$100.00} to the collection agency by check, but I was recovering from XXXX and on XXXX XXXX that I was allergic to ( causing XXXX, XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) but I had to stay on them. I missed a lot of work due to my condition, so my paychecks were small. The collection agency, of course, didn't care. They started demanding a {$300.00} payment, which I couldn't do. Next thing I know, I got an email from my bank telling me my account was garnished. I called them and found out that it was that same lawyer/collection agency. Now they want in excess of {$1100.00}, which with what I already paid them comes to over {$1200.00}. They took the last little bit of money I had for food, {$65.00}. I can not use my account or deposit anything in it because it will go to the bloodsuckers. My net pay is way less than {$1100.00} ( about {$800.00} to {$900.00} ). I received no notification, no letter, nothing. I was denied my Constitutional right to face my accuser in court. I want this stopped. I need to be able to use my bank account.
07/23/2019	Yes	Debt collection Medical debt	False statements or representation Impersonated attorney, law enforcement, or government official	KS 66102	Web
I am filing this complaint against Bessine Walterbach , LLP, and it's Agents, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX for the following reasons : 1. I was first contacted by Bessine Walterbach , LLP on XX/XX/18 about alleged medical debt from University XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, in which Bessine Walterbach , LLP claims to represent themselves as an attorney for University XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. 2. I've requested Proof of Claim on multiple occasions but this debt collector, claiming to be an attorney, has not responded to my requests. 3. Although they have not sent me proof of Claim, now this debt collector is attempting to take me to court and pretend to represent the hospital. 4. This debt collector has had me served at my place of employment, giving the summons to a co-worker of mine, instead of mailing the summons to my home. 5. On the day of court, the case was not on the courts docket. 6. This debt collector has entered a " Motion to Squash Service '' of summons and asking the judge if they can proceed, due to me not being served after Summons was given to my co-worker. 7. This debt collector has doubled the amount of the alleged debt to more than half of the original balance from {$1900.00} to {$4100.00} plus 0.9906 interest per day. 8. This debt collector keeps mailing me what looks like court motions but has NOT been stamped by the court.
10/17/2018	Yes	Debt collection Medical debt	Took or threatened to take negative or legal action Sued you without properly notifying you of lawsuit	MO 64068	Web	Servicemember
My hospital bill was sent to a law firm for collection. My husband is on XXXX XXXX and they served us both. I called and complained and they just took his name off of the lawsuit. I had to make arrangements in or order to not be garnished. I was steadily making payments until one of my payments got lost in the mail. The company has no electronic options or automatic withdrawal options. Everything has be sent or walked into the office. One day I received spam mail from a lawyers firm that wanted to represent me. I had no idea why so I searched my local case net for my name. This law firm has sent my employer garnishment documents. I had no idea that I was behind any payments. I called the office and they instructed me to find legal counsel. I then emailed them for all the payments I have made. I offered to pay the missing payment the same day. I didn't know the payment didn't make it because it was already deducted from my account being a cashier 's check. The law firm told me the garnishment will go through unless I pay the full balance. I never received any notification that I was behind. They said they did not have to notify me because I defaulted on the arrangement. I didn't know I defaulted but now my employer is being effected as well as my credit.
06/27/2023	Yes	Debt collection Other debt	False statements or representation Attempted to collect wrong amount	KS 66049	Web
I am a victim of identity thief. My identity was used in XX/XX/XXXX for a XXXX loan with XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX check cashing. I have submitted a claim through the federal trade commission at identitytheft.gov. I also contacted the attorney who I disputed the case with because I was improperly served court papers. I did not receive any documents about the court case or I would have shown up and plead my case because this is not my debt. Due to improper servicing I am now being garnished for a debt that I am a victim of identity theft on. The attorney Bessine Walterbach XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX case # XXXX ) Has been sent documents by me by certified mail on XX/XX/XXXX. As of now, Bessine Walterbach , LLP is in violation of consumer law codes that they were provided with the certified letter that was sent to them.
09/18/2022	Yes	Debt collection Medical debt	Attempts to collect debt not owed Debt was paid	MO 633XX	Web
I have two companies actively pursuing the same medical debt from me. I have asked for validation letters and they provided with the exact same bills. I do not know who to pay or to set up plans with as they both say they own the debt. Bessine is charging interest and threatening to take me to court Consumer collections is not charging interest but is showing on my credit as a collection. I have attached the letters and records of both.
04/08/2021	Yes	Debt collection Payday loan debt	Written notification about debt Didn't receive notice of right to dispute	KS 662XX	Web
I have a lawsuit filed against me by the law firm XXXX XXXX WALTERBACH XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. The law firms website states that they are a debt collector and I never received any notification from this law firm prior to them filing a lawsuit. This is in violation of law since I was not given a chance to dispute or have the debt varified.
01/30/2023	Yes	Debt collection Medical debt	Took or threatened to take negative or legal action Seized or attempted to seize your property	MO 63135	Web

03/26/2021	Yes	Debt collection Medical debt	Written notification about debt Didn't receive notice of right to dispute	KS 66047	Web

11/16/2020	Yes	Debt collection Payday loan debt	Written notification about debt Didn't receive enough information to verify debt	MO 64505	Web

10/04/2019	Yes	Debt collection Medical debt	False statements or representation Attempted to collect wrong amount	MO 64029	Web

03/24/2018	Yes	Debt collection Medical debt	Written notification about debt Didn't receive notice of right to dispute	MO 64015	Web

09/15/2017	Yes	Debt collection Medical debt	Written notification about debt Didn't receive enough information to verify debt		Phone