5 Steps to Hiring the Best Bail Bondsman: How to Vet a Candidate

You’ve just been arrested, and you’re trying to figure out what’s happening. A bail bondsman is offering a solution — but you don’t know how to find the right one. Or maybe you’re in a bind, facing hefty fines or jail time, and are looking for someone who can help bail you out. With thousands of bail bond agents operating in Australia alone, it can be hard knowing where to turn. For tips on finding the best bail bond agent near you, see this article.

How to vet a bail bondsman

When it comes to trusting a bail bondsman with your loved one’s freedom, it’s important to choose the right one. Unfortunately, choosing the wrong one can ruin your chances of getting your loved one out of jail. One of the worst ways to find a bail bondsman is to simply ask around. The person you choose may not be the best bail bondsman for your needs. Another bad way to find a bail bondsman is to go to the first one you can find simply. You may even be taken down the street to a sketchy storefront, where you will likely be sold on unnecessary services. 

When dealing with a bail bondsman, it’s important to take precautions to make sure you’re dealing with a reputable company. Many bail bond scam artists are out there, and it’s important to know how to spot them. One way to ensure you’re dealing with a reputable bail bondsman is to ask for a copy of their license. Bail bonds companies should be licensed through the state where they operate. You can also ask for references to talk to previous clients. If a bail bondsman gives you the runaround when you ask for a reference, or if you find negative online reviews, walk away.

Find out how much a bail bond is going to cost you before you enter into a contract.

The bail bondsmen industry is a competitive one, which means you have to be careful about who you select to be your bondsman. Anyone can set up shop as a bail bondsman, but there is a difference between the professionals and the amateurs and the honest and the dishonest. The first step to finding the right bondsman for your needs is to determine how much a bail bond will cost you. You don’t want to choose a bondsman who charges you an arm and a leg for their services, but you also don’t want to be ripped off by a bondsman who charges very little upfront and then sticks you with many hidden fees.    There are a number of different factors that will affect the cost of a bail bond, so you need to know what they are before you can determine if a bail bondsman is charging you too much or too little.

What other costs am I responsible for?

Well, you need to know that a bail bond is not a free service. When you post bail for someone, you are essentially promising that the person will show up to his or her court hearings. If they don’t, you have to pay the full bail amount. This is why bail bondsmen typically charge a non-refundable fee of 10-15% of the bail amount. It’s called a bail bond premium.

Bail bond companies charge a non-refundable fee to post bail. You’ll have to pay it whether your friend or family member is released from jail or not. The bail bond company will also require you to pay a collateral bond, which is typically 10% of the total bail amount. If you or your loved one is released from jail, the collateral bond will be returned to you. If your loved one is found guilty, you may forfeit the collateral. Be sure to ask if the bail bond company charges any additional fees. A good bail bond company will be upfront about the costs and will spell them out in the contract. A bail bond company that won’t disclose the costs or pressures you into signing a contract is probably up to no good.                    

Find out if the bail bondsman has a license and good reviews

When hiring a bail bondsman, you’ll want to make sure they have a license and are known to the public. You can check this online by looking up the bail bondsman’s license on the government website. This should be an easy thing to do, but it is often overlooked. You will want to know that the person is legit, so you can trust that they can get your loved one out of jail.

If a bail bondsman is going to be your go-to for bail and advice in an emergency, you should make sure they have a license and have a good reputation in the industry. The bondsman license number should be an active license in good standing. If the bail bondsman doesn’t have a license, don’t work with them.

Contact your local jail to get information about the bondsman you’re considering

Before you hire a bail bondsman, you want to make sure that you’ve done your research to avoid any bail bond scams in the future. One of the most important things to do is to contact your local jail so that you can get information about the bondsman. This is a great way to get a leg up on the competition and find out if any complaints or issues need to be addressed.

When choosing a bail bondsman, you should always get in touch with the jail where the person is being held first. The jail should have records of who is allowed to post bail on their premises. If the person you’re trying to bail out has had a history of failing to show up for court, it’s important to know that before you hand over the money. A bail bondsman can help you get the person out of jail if they show up for court, but it’s your responsibility to get the person out of jail if they don’t show up.