Much has been said about the key players of a surety bond, the process of obtaining a bond, and the role a surety bond plays in a specific industry or business.
However, the issuance of a surety bond is not the final stage in the bonding process. Both the Principal and the Obligee need to verify its authenticity in order to prevent any future problems – from bond rejection to legal difficulties.
A surety bond is more than just a requirement when applying for a license, or a contract that will ensure the compliance of a person to the relevant statutes, or a business protection tool.
It is a legally binding contract guaranteeing a strong financial source that will protect the Obligee (to whom the surety bond is furnished) in case the Principal fails to do his or her obligations.
In other words, verifying a bond is of great importance because bonding is a serious business.
Below are some of the effective ways in which you can verify a surety bond:
Know thy Surety
The first thing that a Principal (the person purchasing the bond) should do is to check whether the surety bond provider is the real deal. A surety bond provider can either be a corporate surety or an individual surety.
In some cases, a surety bond will be issued by an agent. In this case, you have to ask the agent about the surety company that he or she is working for in order to verify the legitimacy of the said company.
A surety goes through stringent steps in order to become recognized in various states or jurisdictions. Contact your state insurance commissioner to know if the surety can write bonds in your area.
You can also check if the surety is part of reputable associations such as the National Association of Surety Bond Producers or has a good financial rating from the A.M. Best Company.
Sureties that issue bonds for federal construction projects are required to obtain a certificate of authority from the U.S. Treasury Department. Those that are part of the Department Circular 570 are the only surety companies that are allowed to write Miller Act bonds.
Verify your bond
The Obligee should contact the surety as soon as the bond is received to confirm if the bond was authorized.
The following are some of the information that should be provided when verifying the bond’s authenticity according to the Surety and Fidelity Association of America.
- Bond number
- The Obligee’s name and address
- The Principal’s name and address
- The bond amount
- The date on which the bond is executed
- The name of the person who signed the bond or the person who signed for the surety
If you have further questions about the verification of a surety bond, please do not hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help!
