How to File a Complaint Against a Bail Agent in California

Good Reasons To Complain

• Someone took money for bail with no active license.⁵
• You were billed a renewal premium.⁴
• A fee does not fit the state's list of allowed charges.⁶
• Your collateral was not returned after the bond was exonerated.⁷
• Someone was surrendered over an unpaid premium.⁸
• You got pressure at a jail or a call from a stranger.⁸⁹
• A website posed as the jail or the government.⁸

Gather This First

Ten minutes of prep makes your complaint much easier to act on.

1. The agent's name and license number. Check it on our agent lookup.
2. The bail company and surety names from your contract.
3. The contract, receipts and any collateral papers.
4. Texts, emails and call logs, with dates and times.
5. The booking number and court case number.
6. A short timeline of what happened, and what you want done.

How To File

Online

Go to the state's request for help page and choose the consumer complaint portal. The state recommends this route, as printed forms may slow the process.² Spanish help is on the same page.

By Phone

Call (800) 927-4357. It is the same number for questions and complaints.²⁸ Write down who you spoke to and any reference number.

Look Up The Agent's History

The state's enforcement action search shows pleadings and orders against licensees, bail agents included.³ A clean search does not prove a clean record, and an accusation is not a finding. It is still worth the two minutes.

When You Might Need A Lawyer

The state can act on a license, but your own money may take more. For a renewal premium, the law lets you sue for all damages plus $3,000, along with attorney fees if you win.⁴ If you are facing a judgment or could lose a house, talk to a lawyer now. The State Bar of California can point you toward certified referral services. A bail agent cannot recommend one.¹⁰

If Our Listing Is Wrong

That is a different thing, and one we can fix. Use the Fix a listing form and choose report.