Every U.S. state licenses real estate brokerage and operates a real estate commission that accepts written complaints from the public, including from referring agents who have not been paid. This is a directory of those agencies. It is operational reference material, not legal advice.
State commissions have authority over licensed agents and brokers.
Failing to honor a written commission or referral agreement can, depending on the state and the facts, be grounds for disciplinary action against a real estate license — including fines, suspension, or revocation. Specific standards and outcomes vary by jurisdiction. See your state commission below and consult a licensed attorney for advice on a particular matter.
How to use this page
- First, work through the platform's cure-case process — see Payment Integrity. Most cases resolve there.
- If the case escalates and the receiving agent does not pay, request the audit packet from Agent Lead Exchange. It contains every signed agreement, timestamped status update, and the ReferralProof™ closing match.
- File a complaint with the receiving agent's broker of record first (their managing broker can compel payment directly).
- If that fails, file with the state real estate commission below and with the local REALTOR® association if the agent is a REALTOR® member. NAR Code of Ethics Articles 6, 7, and 17 are the relevant sections for compensation, disclosure, and dispute procedures.
Additional resources
- NAR Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice
Canonical text of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, including Articles 6, 7, and 17 on compensation, disclosure, and dispute resolution.
- NAR Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual
Reference manual for local-board professional standards hearings and arbitration of compensation disputes between REALTOR® members.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — Submit a complaint
Federal intake for complaints involving mortgage, settlement, or RESPA-adjacent conduct.
- HUD — RESPA Section 8 information
Official HUD reference on referral-fee and kickback rules for federally related mortgage transactions.
Links are provided for reference. Inclusion is not endorsement, and availability of any process depends on the facts of your case and the parties' memberships or licenses.
Links and agency names are kept current by the Agent Lead Exchange team. If you find a broken link, email support so we can update it.