How to verify a Texas debt collection agency is bonded
By Kai Greenspan, Founding Editor · Last updated: July 31, 2026
The surety bond every third-party debt collector must have on file with the Texas Secretary of State before collecting. Checking takes under five minutes and costs nothing.
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · Last checked: June 28, 2026
What brings you here?
Two of the most common reasons people check a collector. Pick whichever fits.
Run a collection agency?See how we rank agencies, and how to get listed.
The four steps
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Open the Texas Secretary of State Debt Collector Search | Go to the official register: https://texas-sos.appianportalsgov.com/tpdc-public-search-portal, the TPDC Public Search Portal. This is the one to use. It is official, free, and needs no account, and it is the public record of every surety bond filed under Texas Finance Code Chapter 392. The classic search at https://direct.sos.state.tx.us/debtcollectors/DCSearch.asp is still online, but it has not recorded a new filing since August 12, 2025, so an agency bonded after that date will not appear there. |
| 2. Search the agency name | Type the agency name exactly as it appears on its paperwork or website. Try shorter versions of the name too, since agencies sometimes file under a parent or legal name that differs from their trading name. |
| 3. Check the bond status and dates | A result showing a bond in force means the agency currently meets the Chapter 392 requirement. On the TPDC portal an in-force bond shows as Filed or Active; Closed, Bond Cancelled or Pending Closure mean it has ended or is ending. If a cancellation date is shown, the bond ends on that date, whatever the status word says. Note the file number and dates for your records. |
| 4. If there is no result, ask before engaging | First make sure you searched the TPDC Public Search Portal, because the classic search will not show any agency bonded since August 12, 2025. If the portal shows no filing under any version of the name, that is a serious red flag. Ask the agency directly for its Secretary of State file number and verify that number before signing anything or handing over accounts. |
Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · Last checked: June 28, 2026
Common questions about bond checks
Is the Texas Secretary of State search free to use?
Yes. The Debt Collector Search is a free public register maintained by the Texas Secretary of State. Anyone can search it without an account, and it is the same official source Debt Collection Index checks and links for every bonded agency it lists.
There seem to be two versions of the Secretary of State search. Which should I use?
Use the TPDC Public Search Portal. The Secretary of State has moved the register to that new front end and its own FAQ links there. The classic search page is still online, but it has not recorded a new filing since August 12, 2025, so it will not show an agency bonded after that date. Both draw on the same statutory register, bonds filed under Texas Finance Code Chapter 392, though they label the same states with different words: the portal says Filed where the classic search says Active, and the full mapping is on our methodology page. The classic page remains a reliable record of filings made up to that date, which we confirmed on July 30, 2026 by comparing every filing on both systems.
What if an agency says it is bonded but I cannot find it?
Ask the agency for its Secretary of State file number and check that number on the register directly. Agencies sometimes file under a legal or parent-company name that differs from their trading name; the file number resolves that. If it still cannot be verified, treat the claim as unproven.
Does a bond mean an agency is good at collecting?
No. The bond is a legal minimum, not a quality mark. It tells you the agency may lawfully collect in Texas. Performance is a separate question, which is why our rankings also weigh verified certifications and years continuously bonded; a complaint-handling measure built from public CFPB data is in development and is not part of the ranking until it is published on the methodology page.
How do I check a collection agency outside Texas?
The CFPB’s advice works in any state: ask the collector for its name, company name, street address, telephone number and "professional license number, if your state licenses debt collectors", and contact your state attorney general and state regulator to learn more. Requirements genuinely vary by state: Texas, for example, uses a $10,000 bond filed with the Secretary of State rather than a license. This site’s coverage is Texas-first, so for other states go to that state’s own official register rather than any third-party directory.
How can I tell a legitimate collection agency from a scam?
The CFPB’s red flags: threats of criminal charges, refusal to give information about the debt, refusal to provide a mailing address or phone number, and requests for your personal financial information. The FTC’s fraud guidance adds one more that settles many cases outright: insistence on payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or payment app; in the FTC’s words, only scammers tell you to buy a gift card to pay them. To verify, ask for the collector’s name, company name, street address, phone number and professional license number where applicable, and check with the state attorney general and state regulator. In Texas there is a stronger check available to anyone: search the Secretary of State’s public register to see whether the firm has the surety bond the law requires.