How do you check a bail bondsman's license in South Carolina?

The three kinds of South Carolina bondsman license

The S.C. Department of Insurance issues three bondsman licenses:

• Professional bondsman: posts bonds backed by their own money. The department says applicants complete a 30-hour pre-licensing course, pass an exam, pay a licensing fee, and deposit at least $10,000 in cash or certificates of deposit with the clerk of court in their home county. Professional bondsmen file monthly bond reports and an annual financial statement.
• Surety bondsman: writes bonds as an agent of an insurance company. They must hold an active insurance producer license and a bondsman license, and are appointed by the insurer.
• Runner: works under a supervising bondsman and is appointed by that bondsman.

All of them renew every year, between April 1 and June 30, with eight hours of continuing education and fingerprinting. Requirements and fees can change; the department's bondsman page has the current list.

How to check a license

1. Ask for the full name and license number of the person you are dealing with, and the company name. A legitimate bondsman expects this question.
2. Look the person up in the public licensee lookup the department uses (NAIC State Based Systems), choosing South Carolina, or call the department's bondsman licensing line at 803-737-0719. You can also email [email protected].
3. Match the details: the name on the license, the license type, and that it is active.
4. For a runner, ask who the supervising bondsman is and check that license too.

For bonds in Polk County, North Carolina, use the NC Department of Insurance bondsman lookup instead.

Red flags

Under S.C. Code § 38-53-170 and related sections, these should make you stop and check:

• Approached at the jail or courthouse. Bondsmen may not solicit business in any court, a magistrate's office, or in or about any place where prisoners are held.
• A bondsman recommends a lawyer. A bondsman may not suggest or name a particular attorney.
• A premium above 15 percent, or a quote that will not be put in writing.
• No receipt for collateral. The law requires a written receipt with a full description (§ 38-53-180).
• Collateral far out of proportion to the bond. The law says it must be reasonable in relation to the bond amount.
• Offers of cash back, gifts, or "discounts" to the defendant, or claims of connections that can get a lower bond. Giving anything of value to officials or to the defendant to get business is prohibited.
• Blank forms or pressure to sign before you have read the agreement.
• Phone calls demanding bond money by wire, app, or gift card. Confirm custody and the bond amount with the detention center (864-596-2607) yourself before paying anyone.

Where to complain

The S.C. Department of Insurance takes complaints about bondsmen through an online form on its bondsman page, with a separate form for violations of the premium (10%) rules. The department's main office is at 1201 Main Street, Suite 1000, Columbia, SC 29201; main number 803-737-6160.

Choosing among licensed bondsmen

Once a license checks out, compare on the things that matter to you: how quickly they can respond at the detention center, how they explain the paperwork, what collateral they need, whether they offer a written payment agreement, and how they handle court-date reminders. Ask each one the questions in what a bondsman can charge.

Bail bond companies serving Spartanburg and neighboring counties are in the directory. Listings show each company's own published details and are not recommendations.