What a bondsman may and may NOT do
Texas licenses bail bond sureties under Occupations Code Ch. 1704 and sets firm rules of conduct. Knowing those rules is the foundation of every remedy on this page.
A licensed bail bond surety agrees to be financially responsible for a defendant's appearance in exchange for a fee. In return for that license, the bondsman accepts a regulated set of duties. Two of the most important consumer protections are the receipt requirement and the prohibited-conduct rules. A bondsman who ignores them is not just being difficult — they may be violating the Occupations Code, which gives you something to point to when you complain.
- Receipt
- The surety must give you a receipt for money or collateral received — Occ. Code §1704.305
- Solicitation
- May not solicit business improperly — no runners, no “cappers,” no soliciting inside a jail or courthouse — §1704.304
- Collateral
- Must return collateral within 30 days after the bond is discharged or the surety is released — §1704.301
- License
- Must hold a current license issued and policed by the County Bail Bond Board — §1704.251–.254
Prohibited conduct under §1704.304
Section 1704.304 of the Occupations Code is the core “prohibited conduct” provision. Broadly, it bars a bondsman (and people acting for one) from chasing business in ways that prey on people in custody. Conduct that commonly raises a §1704.304 issue includes:
- Soliciting bonding business in a jail, a courthouse, or by loitering where people are arrested or booked;
- Using a runner or “capper” — a third party paid to bring in clients — or paying a kickback for referrals;
- Recommending a particular attorney, or accepting payment to steer you to one, as a condition of the bond;
- Misrepresenting the cost, terms, or refundability of the bond.
Common problems people report
Most bail bond disputes fall into a few recurring buckets. Naming the problem precisely helps you pick the right remedy below and frame a complaint the board can act on.
You do not need to prove a statute violation to have a real grievance, but it helps to describe what happened in the same terms the board uses. Here are the issues that come up most often, and the rule each one tends to touch:
| Problem | What it looks like | Rule it touches |
|---|---|---|
| Collateral not returned | The case is over, the bond is discharged, but the bondsman won't give back the property or cash you pledged | §1704.301 (30-day return) |
| No receipt | You paid a premium or handed over collateral and got nothing in writing itemizing it | §1704.305 (receipt required) |
| Overcharging / hidden fees | Charges beyond the agreed premium, vague “fees,” or a premium misrepresented as refundable | §1704.304 (misrepresentation) |
| Harassment | Threats, abusive contact, or pressure beyond what the indemnity agreement allows | General misconduct / board rules |
| Unlicensed runner | A stranger approached you at the jail offering to “help” with a bond for a fee | §1704.304 (runners/solicitation) |
Your remedies, in order
When a bondsman won't do the right thing, you usually have more than one option — and they can run in parallel. Start with the cheapest, fastest step and escalate as needed.
Think of your options as a ladder. A written demand often solves a collateral dispute outright; a board complaint puts the bondsman's license on the line; and a civil suit is how you actually recover money or property. You can pursue more than one at once, and doing so does not waive any of them.
1. Demand your collateral back — §1704.301
If the bond has been discharged or exonerated and the surety is released, send a dated written demand for the return of your collateral and keep a copy. The statute gives the bondsman 30 days. A clear, dated demand both starts the clock in the bondsman's mind and becomes evidence if you have to escalate.
2. File a complaint with the County Bail Bond Board — §1704.251–.254
The board that licensed the bondsman is the primary regulator. Under §1704.251–.254 it reviews complaints and can discipline a license — including suspension or revocation — for prohibited conduct. A complaint is free and does not require a lawyer. The step-by-step process is in the next section, and the per-county links are in the table below it.
3. Other state and licensing avenues
For most local county bail bond sureties, the County Bail Bond Board is the day-to-day regulator under Ch. 1704. A corporate surety that writes bonds is also an insurer and may fall under Texas Department of Insurance oversight. If you are unsure which applies, call the county board first — they can tell you whether your complaint belongs with them or elsewhere.
4. Civil suit — conversion or breach of contract
A board complaint addresses the license; it does not put money back in your pocket. To recover unreturned collateral or damages, you can sue in civil court — typically for conversion of your property or breach of the bond or indemnity contract. Smaller disputes can go to justice (small-claims) court; larger ones to county court. This is general information, not advice on your specific claim, so confirm the right venue and deadlines before you file.
How to file a Board complaint — step by step
Each County Bail Bond Board sets its own complaint procedure, but the core steps are the same everywhere. Build a clean, documented file and the board can act on it.
- Gather your documentsCollect your bond contract, indemnity/collateral agreement, the receipt the bondsman was required to give you (§1704.305), proof of every payment, and a written description of the cash or property you pledged.
- Put the demand in writingIf the dispute is about collateral, send a dated written demand for its return within the §1704.301 window and keep a copy. A documented demand often resolves things and strengthens the complaint if it doesn't.
- Find your County Bail Bond BoardIdentify the board for the county that licensed the bondsman (not necessarily where you live). Use the per-county links in the table below to reach its complaint or grievance procedure.
- Complete the board's complaint formFill out the grievance form, attach copies of your documents, and describe the prohibited conduct factually — dates, amounts, names, and the section it touches (e.g., §1704.301 or §1704.304).
- Submit and keep a copySubmit by the board's required method and keep a stamped, dated, or emailed copy. The board reviews the complaint and may discipline the license under §1704.251–.254.
- Follow up and preserve other remediesTrack the board's response, and if money or property is at stake, don't rely on the board alone — keep your civil claim and any deadlines alive, and talk to an attorney about a forfeiture or surety dispute.
Where to complain — DFW county links
File with the board in the county that licensed the bondsman. Below are the verified board and complaint links for the 13 DFW-area counties; where a county has no public complaint page, contact the board or Sheriff and your county hub.
| County | Bail Bond Board | Complaint route | FCA county hub |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collin | Board page | Board grievance form | Collin County |
| Dallas | Board page | Board / Sheriff — 214-653-2756 | Dallas County |
| Denton | Board page | Contact board — 940-349-3230 | Denton County |
| Tarrant | Board page | Rules & regulations | Tarrant County |
| Rockwall | Contact county (no public board page) | Contact county / Sheriff | Rockwall County |
| Kaufman | Board page | Contact board — 972-932-4337 | Kaufman County |
| Ellis | Board page | Complaint document | Ellis County |
| Johnson | District Clerk (board by statute; no public page) | Contact county | Johnson County |
| Hunt | Board page | Contact board — 903-408-4100 | Hunt County |
| Parker | Board contact 817-596-9200 (no public page) | Contact county | Parker County |
| Wise | Board page | Filing instructions on site | Wise County |
| Hood | Board page | bailbondboard@co.hood.tx.us | Hood County |
| Grayson | Board page | Contact board — 903-813-4200 | Grayson County |
Not sure which county licensed your bondsman? It's usually the county where the bond was written and the case is pending. Your Bail Bond Boards guide explains how each board verifies licenses and posts its approved-bondsman list, and the bail & bonds hub links every county's bond details.
When you need an attorney
A consumer complaint handles most receipt, collateral, and solicitation problems. But once a bond forfeiture, a surety judgment, or a co-signer's liability is in play, the stakes change and a lawyer matters.
The remedies above are designed to be do-it-yourself: a written demand and a board complaint cost nothing and don't require counsel. Where an attorney earns their keep is on the bigger-dollar side of bail — when a bond is being forfeited, when a surety or indemnitor is staring at a judgment, or when contract terms in an indemnity agreement are being enforced against a co-signer. Those are litigation matters, not consumer complaints.
This guide is a neutral public resource, so it does not walk through forfeiture defense strategy. If you are a defendant, a co-signer, or a surety facing one of these disputes, that is where L and L Law Group's defense practice comes in. See the firm's pages on surety bond defense and bond forfeiture defense, or, if your goal is simply a lower bond, bail bond reduction.
Complaints & your rights — FAQ
Where do I file a complaint against a bail bondsman in Texas?
You file with the County Bail Bond Board in the county that licensed the bondsman, under Occupations Code §1704.251–.254. The board licenses and disciplines sureties in that county, so it — not a single statewide agency — handles most consumer complaints. Use the county links on this page to find the correct board's grievance procedure, and keep copies of everything you submit.
My bail bondsman won't return my collateral. What can I do?
Under Occupations Code §1704.301, a surety must return collateral within 30 days after the bond is discharged or the surety is released. Send a dated written demand, keep a copy, and if it is not returned you can file a complaint with the County Bail Bond Board and pursue a civil claim for conversion. Note that collateral is different from the premium — the non-refundable fee you paid the bondsman is not collateral and does not come back.
Is the bail bond premium refundable if my case is dismissed?
No. The premium — the roughly 10 to 15 percent fee you pay a surety bondsman — is the bondsman's earned fee for posting the bond, and it is non-refundable even if the charges are dropped. No statute requires its return. This is different from collateral, which must be returned under §1704.301, and from a cash bond posted directly with the county, which is refundable to the depositor minus court fees.
What is a bail bondsman not allowed to do in Texas?
Occupations Code §1704.304 lists prohibited conduct, which includes improper solicitation of bonding business — for example, soliciting in a jail or courthouse, using runners or “cappers” to chase business, or paying others to steer clients. A bondsman also must give you a receipt for money and collateral under §1704.305 and return collateral on time under §1704.301. Conduct that violates these rules can be reported to the County Bail Bond Board.
Can I sue a bail bondsman?
Yes. A Bail Bond Board complaint addresses the bondsman's license, but it does not award you money. To recover unreturned collateral or damages, you can bring a civil claim — for example, conversion of property or breach of the bond or indemnity contract — in justice (small-claims) or county court, depending on the amount. The two paths can run in parallel; this page is general information, not legal advice about your specific case.
The bondsman never gave me a receipt — does that matter?
Yes. Occupations Code §1704.305 requires a bail bond surety to give a receipt for money or collateral received. A missing or incomplete receipt is itself a problem you can raise in a Bail Bond Board complaint, and it can make collateral disputes harder for the bondsman to defend. Always ask for and keep a written receipt that itemizes the premium and any collateral separately.
Does the Texas Department of Insurance regulate bail bondsmen?
For most county bail bond sureties, day-to-day licensing and discipline run through the County Bail Bond Board under Occupations Code Ch. 1704, not a single statewide regulator. Corporate sureties that write bonds are insurers and may also fall under Texas Department of Insurance oversight, but a typical consumer complaint about a local bondsman starts with the county board. Use the county links on this page and call the board if you are unsure where to file.
How long does the County Bail Bond Board take to act on a complaint?
There is no fixed statewide timeline; each County Bail Bond Board sets its own process for reviewing complaints and disciplining licenses under §1704.251–.254. Some boards act at their next regular meeting. Submit a complete, factual complaint with copies of your documents, keep a stamped or emailed copy, and follow up with the board. If money or property is at risk, do not wait on the board alone — preserve your civil remedies too.
Have a question this page didn't answer? Browse more DFW jail, bond & court FAQs.
Facing a bond forfeiture or surety dispute?
Receipt, collateral, and solicitation problems usually go to the county board above. But if a forfeiture, surety judgment, or co-signer liability is on the line, L&L Law Group can review it — free and confidential.