Debt Management & Settlement Providers

Debt Management and Settlement Providers include 2 sets of activities:

  1. Consumer credit counseling services
  2. Debt negotiators

Applications

Apply online with ALECS. Please turn your browsers auto fill feature off prior to beginning your application. To avoid any potential glitches, please use Chrome or Firefox browsers. 

Effective September 1, 2015 all application must be submitted online.

If you have specific legal questions, please seek the advice of an attorney.

Changes- Current Licensed Location

Make changes online with ALECS

If instructed by OCCC staff to do so, mail in  Amendment or Change to License.

Reporting

2016 Annual Report Submission will be filed through ALECS.

Individual Forms

Application Questionnaire

Disclosure of Owners and Principal Parties

List of Offices

Registration Fees

Surety Bond

Statutory Agent Form

Acrobat Reader is required to view, download, and complete forms. Save forms to your computer before filling in. 

Advisory Bulletins

Fee Limitations for Debt Management Services (Nov. 4, 2021)

Statutes & Rules

These are the primary statutes and rules that apply to debt management and settlement providers. This is not a complete list of laws that debt management and settlement providers are required to comply with.

Primary State Statute
Chapter 394, Texas Finance Code: Debtor Assistance

OCCC's Rules
Title 7, Chapter 88, Texas Administrative Code

Other State Statutes
Texas Constitution and Statutes

Federal Statutes & Rules
U.S. Government Publishing Office
 

Adjustments to Maximum Fee Amounts

Section 394.210 of the Texas Finance Code lists maximum fee amounts for debt management and debt settlement providers. Under Section 394.2101, the OCCC publishes adjustments to these amounts based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (1982-84). The following maximum fee amounts are in effect from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023:

Description  Citation Adjusted Amount
Debt management setup  fee 394.210(f)(1)    $124.00
Debt management monthly service fee                 394.210(f)(2)         Lesser of $12.00 per account or $62.00
Debt settlement setup fee 394.210(g)(1) $494.00
Debt settlement monthly service fee 394.210(g)(2) Lesser of $12.00 per account or $62.00
Counseling or education if no debt management or settlement service provided 394.210(1) $124.00
Fee for dishonored payment 394.210(n) $30.00[1]

Note: These calculations are based on comparing the reference base index for December 2011 (225.672) to the index for December 2020 (260.474). The percentage change is an 15.4214% increase, rounded to the nearest dollar. The fee descriptions above are just a summary. Providers should carefully review Section 394.210 and other applicable law to ensure that their fees are authorized.

Effective Maximum Fee Amounts: July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024

The effective maximum fee amounts for July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 will be adjusted as follows:

Description  Citation Adjusted Amount
Debt management setup  fee 394.210(f)(1)    $132.00
Debt management monthly service fee                 394.210(f)(2)         Lesser of $13.00 per account or $66.00
Debt settlement setup fee 394.210(g)(1) $526.00
Debt settlement monthly service fee 394.210(g)(2) Lesser of $13.00 per account or $66.00
Counseling or education if no debt management or settlement service provided 394.210(1) $132.00
Fee for dishonored payment 394.210(n) $30.00[1]

Note: These calculations are based on comparing the reference base index for December 2011 (225.672) to the index for December 2021 (278.802). The percentage change is a 23.5430% increase, rounded to the nearest dollar. The fee descriptions above are just a summary. Providers should carefully review Section 394.210 and other applicable law to ensure that their fees are authorized.
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[1]The adjustment would exceed the $30 authorized by Texas Business and Commerce Code §3.506