Complaint Procedure

General Public

The Surety Bond Branch only handles complaints made by federal agencies. If you are not a federal agency and need assistance, please contact your state’s attorney general or contact an attorney.

Federal Agencies

Legally, a surety company is not required to step in until the bonded party has defaulted on the bond. However, surety companies do appreciate being informed early of problems or signs of trouble on behalf of a bonded party. Therefore, if you are having difficulty or are noticing early signs of trouble with the bonded party, please feel free to contact the surety company directly at the phone number listed in the Treasury Department Circular 570 List of Certified Companies.

If you are having difficulty with a surety company which has bonded a defaulted principal, you may contact the Surety Bond Branch at 304-480-6635.

To request revocation of a surety company's certificate of authority, see 31 C.F.R. 223.20. You must file a written complaint, submit a detailed chronology of events, and provide copies of supporting documentation.

The above documentation should be sent to surety.bonds@fiscal.treasury.gov. On receipt of such report from the Federal agency, the Secretary of Treasury will, if the circumstances warrant, notify the company concerned that the agency report may demonstrate that the company is not keeping and performing its contracts. It may also show that, in the absence of satisfactory explanation, the company's default may preclude the renewal of the company's Certificate of Authority or warrant prompt revocation of the existing Certificate. This notice provides opportunity to the company to demonstrate its qualification for a continuance of the Certificate of Authority.