Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and Etowah Insurance Group, Inc. ("Company," "we," "us," or "our"), operator of SuretyMarketplace.com. By accessing our website, creating an account, or completing a purchase, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference.

If you are using this site on behalf of a business or other legal entity, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity to these Terms, and "you" shall refer to that entity.

2. About Us

SuretyMarketplace.com is owned and operated by Etowah Insurance Group, Inc., a licensed insurance agency incorporated in the State of Georgia, with its principal place of business at PO Box 14, Silver Creek, Georgia 30173. We are licensed to conduct insurance business in all 50 states of the United States.

Surety bonds issued through our platform are underwritten by licensed surety companies ("Surety Companies") with whom we have agency agreements. Etowah Insurance Group, Inc. acts as an agent of the Surety Company, not as the surety itself.

3. Our Services

SuretyMarketplace.com provides an online marketplace that allows users to:

• Search for surety bonds by state and bond type
• Obtain automated quotes for eligible bond types
• Purchase surety bonds online via our automated platform
• Receive digital bond documents for immediate use
• Access educational resources about surety bonds

Our platform operates as an automated surety bond issuance system for most standard bond types. For bonds requiring individual underwriting review, we facilitate the application process and communicate with underwriters on your behalf.

4. Eligibility

To use our services, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age, or the age of majority in your jurisdiction
• Have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts
• Be a legal resident or entity authorized to do business in the United States
• Provide accurate and complete information during the application process
• Not be subject to any legal prohibition on purchasing insurance or surety products

By using our services, you represent and warrant that you meet all eligibility requirements. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who does not meet these requirements or who we determine, in our sole discretion, poses a risk of fraud or misuse.

5. User Accounts

Some features of our platform may require you to provide personal information. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Update your information promptly if it changes
• Keep any credentials or account information confidential
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use at info@suretymarketplace.com

You are responsible for all activity conducted through your account or session. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to protect your account information.

6. Purchases & Payments

Pricing

Bond premiums are calculated based on the required bond amount, bond type, your credit profile (where applicable), and other underwriting factors. All prices are displayed in U.S. dollars and are subject to change without notice. The price shown at checkout is the price you will be charged.

Payment

We accept major credit and debit cards as displayed at checkout. Payment is processed by a third-party payment processor. By providing payment information, you authorize us to charge the displayed amount. You represent that you are authorized to use the payment method provided.

Taxes and Fees

Bond premiums may be subject to state surplus lines taxes, stamping fees, or other state-mandated assessments. Where applicable, these will be disclosed and included in your total at checkout. You are responsible for any applicable taxes related to your purchase.

Premium Financing

For certain larger bonds, premium financing may be available through third-party financing companies. Any financing arrangement is a separate agreement between you and the financing company; we are not a party to that agreement.

7. Bond Issuance & Your Obligations

Accuracy of Information

The validity of your surety bond depends on the accuracy of the information you provide. You represent and warrant that all information submitted in your bond application is true, accurate, and complete. Material misrepresentation or fraud in a bond application may void the bond, result in claim denial, and may constitute a crime under state and federal law.

Principal's Obligation to Indemnify the Surety

You understand that a surety bond is not insurance for you — it is a guarantee to the obligee (the party requiring the bond). If a valid claim is paid by the Surety Company on your bond, you are personally and legally obligated to reimburse the Surety Company in full, including the claim amount, legal fees, and related costs. This obligation is typically secured by a personal or corporate indemnity agreement.

Bond Terms and Conditions

Each bond is subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations printed on the bond form. These terms are established by the Surety Company and the applicable state. We encourage you to read your bond document carefully upon receipt.

Delivery

Bond documents are delivered electronically to the email address you provide. It is your responsibility to ensure your email address is correct and that your email system accepts messages from suretymarketplace.com. We are not responsible for delays caused by incorrect email addresses or spam filters.

Effective Date

Bonds are effective as of the effective date stated on the bond document. Coverage does not begin before that date. Verify that the effective date meets the requirements of the obligee before submitting your bond.

8. Cancellations & Refunds

Cancellation by You

You may request cancellation of your bond by contacting us at info@suretymarketplace.com. Bond cancellation is subject to the following:

• Most bonds require advance written notice to the obligee before cancellation is effective (typically 30 days)
• A minimum earned premium may apply; refunds, if any, are calculated on a short-rate or pro-rata basis depending on the bond form
• Some bonds are non-cancellable or have restricted cancellation rights under state law
• Bonds that have had claims filed against them generally cannot be cancelled until the claim is resolved

Cancellation by Surety

The Surety Company reserves the right to cancel a bond in accordance with the terms of the bond and applicable state law. We will notify you of any surety-initiated cancellation as soon as practicable.

Refund Policy

Refunds are issued to the original payment method within 10 business days of cancellation processing. Our service fees are non-refundable once a bond has been issued. If a bond is cancelled before the effective date, a full refund of the premium (minus any non-refundable fees) will be issued.

9. Prohibited Uses

You agree not to use our website or services to:

• Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information in any bond application
• Obtain bonds for purposes for which you are not legally qualified
• Use bonds for any unlawful purpose or in violation of applicable laws
• Attempt to access systems or data you are not authorized to access
• Transmit malware, viruses, or harmful code
• Scrape, copy, or systematically extract data from our site without permission
• Misrepresent your identity or affiliation
• Interfere with the proper functioning of our platform
• Violate the intellectual property rights of Etowah Insurance Group, Inc. or any third party

Violation of these prohibitions may result in termination of access, reporting to law enforcement, and civil and/or criminal liability.

10. Intellectual Property

All content on SuretyMarketplace.com — including text, graphics, logos, icons, images, software, and the overall design — is the property of Etowah Insurance Group, Inc. or its content licensors and is protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the website for its intended purpose. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works from, or commercially exploit any content without our prior written consent.

Bond forms and surety documents may be the intellectual property of the applicable Surety Company. Your license to use these documents is limited to the purpose for which the bond was issued.

11. Disclaimers

OUR WEBSITE AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not warrant that:

• Our website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or harmful components
• The information on our site is complete, accurate, or current
• Any bond will satisfy the specific requirements of any particular obligee
• Automated underwriting decisions will result in bond issuance in every case

It is your responsibility to verify with the requiring authority (obligee) that the bond form, amount, and terms satisfy their specific requirements before submitting your bond.

12. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ETOWAH INSURANCE GROUP, INC. AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST REVENUE, LOSS OF DATA, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO YOUR USE OF OUR SERVICES.

IN NO EVENT SHALL OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF OUR SERVICES EXCEED THE GREATER OF: (A) THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU PAID TO US IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100).

Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. In those states, our liability is limited to the greatest extent permitted by law.

13. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Etowah Insurance Group, Inc. and its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, and service providers from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to:

• Your use of our website or services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
• Any misrepresentation you made in a bond application
• Any claim made against a bond you purchased through our platform
• Your infringement of any third-party rights

14. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, without giving effect to any conflict of law provisions. You consent to the personal jurisdiction of state and federal courts located in Floyd County, Georgia for any disputes arising under these Terms.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in these Terms limits your rights under the consumer protection laws of your state of residence, including any mandatory arbitration or dispute resolution rights granted by state law.

15. Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution

Before initiating any formal dispute, you agree to contact us at info@suretymarketplace.com and provide a written description of the dispute, the relief you seek, and your contact information. We will attempt to resolve the dispute within 30 days.

Insurance Regulatory Complaints

If your dispute relates to an insurance or surety bond transaction, you may also file a complaint with your state's Department of Insurance. Each state insurance department has a consumer services division that handles complaints against licensed agents and insurers. We are committed to cooperating fully with any regulatory inquiry.

Arbitration

For disputes not resolved informally, and except where prohibited by state law, you agree that any dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. Arbitration shall take place in Floyd County, Georgia, or by telephone or video conference. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding, and judgment may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Class Action Waiver: You agree to bring disputes only in your individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any class action. Some states do not permit class action waivers; this provision is void where prohibited by law.

Small Claims Court

Notwithstanding the arbitration clause, either party may bring an individual action in small claims court for disputes within that court's jurisdiction.

16. Accessibility Commitment

SuretyMarketplace.com is committed to providing an accessible experience for all users, including individuals with disabilities, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines.

If you encounter an accessibility barrier on our website or need assistance completing a bond purchase due to a disability, we will accommodate you at no additional cost. Please contact us:

We will respond to accessibility requests within 5 business days and will provide a reasonable accommodation to ensure you can complete your bond purchase.

17. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated by posting the updated Terms on our website with a revised "Last Updated" date, and by email to users with active bonds or recent transactions. Your continued use of our services after the effective date of any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

We will provide at least 30 days' advance notice for material changes that adversely affect your rights. Changes required by law may take effect immediately.

18. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us: