(a) Any person desiring to conduct a collection agency shall make an application to the secretary of state upon such forms as may be prescribed by the secretary of state. Such application shall include the following:

1. (1) If the applicant is an individual:

   1. (A) the individual's name;
   2. (B) the individual's residence address;
   3. (C) the address of each location from which the individual carries out the activities of the collection agency; and
   4. (D) a statement that the individual satisfies the qualifications set forth in section 4 of this chapter.

2. (2) If the applicant is a partnership:

   1. (A) the name of each partner;
   2. (B) the business address of the partnership;
   3. (C) the residence address of at least one (1) of the partners;
   4. (D) the address of each location from which the partnership carries out the activities of the collection agency; and
   5. (E) a statement that each partner in the partnership satisfies the qualifications set forth in section 4 of this chapter.

3. (3) If the applicant is a limited liability company:

   1. (A) the date and place of organization;
   2. (B) the name of the limited liability company;
   3. (C) the business address of the limited liability company;
   4. (D) the residence address of at least one (1) of the managers or members of the limited liability company; and
   5. (E) a statement that each of the managers and members in the limited liability company satisfies the qualifications set forth in section 4 of this chapter.

4. (4) If the applicant is a corporation:

   1. (A) the date and place of incorporation;
   2. (B) the name of the corporation;
   3. (C) the business address of the corporation;
   4. (D) the residence address of at least one (1) of the officers of the corporation; and

   5. (E) a statement that each of the officers of the corporation satisfies the qualifications set forth in section 4 of this chapter.

      The application shall be duly sworn to before an officer qualified to administer oaths. The application shall set forth in the application any other verified information which will assist the secretary of state in determining the qualifications of the applicant to meet the requirements of a collection agency as set forth in this chapter.

(e) Every original and renewal application shall be accompanied by the following:

1. (1) A corporate surety bond in the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each office the applicant operates in the state of Indiana. All bonds shall run to the people of the state of Indiana and shall be furnished by a surety company authorized to do business in this state. All bonds shall be conditioned upon the faithful accounting of all money collected upon accounts entrusted to such person and shall be continuous in form and shall remain in full force and effect and run continuously with the license period and any renewal thereof. All bonds shall further be conditioned upon the provision that the applicant shall, within sixty (60) days from the date of the collection of any claim, render an account of and pay to the client, for whom collection has been made, the proceeds of such collection less the charges for collection agreed upon by and between the applicant and the client. All bonds shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state and shall be approved by the secretary of state before being filed. All bonds filed and approved shall be for the use and benefit of all persons damaged by the wrongful conversion of any money by such person, and any individual so injured or aggrieved may bring an action upon such bond. The surety company may notify the secretary of state and principal of its desire to terminate its liability under any bond furnished. Thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice by the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall thereupon require the principal to file a new bond or discontinue all operations. If a new bond is filed by the principal all liability under any previous bond shall thereupon cease and terminate. If a new bond shall not be filed within the thirty (30) day period above specified the secretary of state shall, after expiration of the period, revoke the principal's license.
2. (2) Any applicant who is a nonresident of the state of Indiana shall also submit a statement appointing an agent or attorney resident herein, upon whom all legal process against the applicant may be served. The statement shall contain a stipulation that the applicant agrees that service of legal process upon such agent or attorney shall be valid service upon the applicant.

(f) Subject to subsection (g), the secretary of state may designate a multistate automated licensing system and repository, established and operated by a third party, to serve as the sole entity responsible for:

1. (1) processing applications for:

   1. (A) licenses under this chapter; and
   2. (B) renewals of licenses under this chapter; and

2. (2) performing other services that the secretary of state determines are necessary for the orderly administration of the secretary of state's licensing system under this chapter.

   The secretary of state may take any action necessary to participate in a multistate automated licensing system and repository.

(g) The secretary of state's authority to designate a multistate automated licensing system and repository under subsection (f) is subject to the following:

1. (1) The secretary of state may not require any person that is not required to be licensed under this chapter, or any employee or agent of a person that is not required to be licensed under this chapter, to:

   1. (A) submit information to; or

   2. (B) participate in;

      the multistate automated licensing system and repository.

2. (2) The secretary of state may require a person required under this chapter to submit information to the multistate automated licensing system and repository to pay a processing fee considered reasonable by the secretary of state.

   Formerly: Acts 1937, c.92, s.3; Acts 1955, c.304, s.3. As amended by Acts 1978, P.L.12, SEC.8; P.L.8-1993, SEC.377; P.L.178-1996, SEC.2; P.L.85-2012, SEC.8; P.L.136-2018, SEC.141.