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Myths and Truths About Using Bail Bondsman Services

Bail bondsman services are a common sight throughout most of the United States. In fact, you often see many offices located around the vicinity of courthouses and county jails. However, many of these services are shrouded in the myths that people believe about them.

These myths and rumors may leave you nervous — and sometimes fearful — of what may happen when you need a bondsman services. Here are three of the most common myths surrounding bail bondsman services and the truth of those myths.

Refunded Money

When you go to a bail bondsman or call for their services, you will have to pay the bail bondsman a certain amount of money based on your total bail amount. This percentage of money, which is usually 10 percent of your bail, is paid to the bondsman as payment of their services.

The myth surrounding this money is that you will receive the full amount you paid back as a refund once you have gone to court for your appearance. However, the percent that you pay — of your total bail that you borrow from the bail bondsman — is not refundable, regardless if you show up to court or not.

A refund also is not contingent on the number of court appearances you have. The amount you pay the bondsman is for the bondsman to keep and use towards expenses related to your account with them.

Varying Cost of Bonds

When you contact a bail bondsman, you will be told the percentage of the bond that will need to be paid. If your bond is 10 percent of the full amount of bond, for example a $10,000 bond, then your bail bondsman will charge you $1,000. This payment is due at the time the bondsman arrives at the jail and can be paid by you, a spouse, or anyone you have arranged to pay the bond.

The myth regarding the cost of a bond states that the bail bondsman can choose the amount that you pay and that amount can vary. However, bail bondsman companies are under the rulings of the state and can only charge what the state allows. This agreement with the state is part of the certification that the bail bondsman receives from the state to operate their business.

All Crimes are Covered

When you or someone you know is arrested, you may believe that you can automatically contact the bail bondsman. There is a myth that bail bondsman will cover any crime for anyone that is arrested. However, not all crimes are covered, nor are all cases covered by or available for a bondsman.

To qualify, the charge has to be given and the arrestee has to be booked into a formal holding facility. For example, if you are picked up by one county but taken to another channel as your final transfer, you must be booked into that final holding facility or jail. Once you are booked in, you can call a bondsman.

Also, bondsmen are not allowed to work with individuals who have committed certain crimes. These restrictions depend on the state and what laws the state has, however, most states do not allow bondsman assistance on failure to appear charges, armed kidnapping, and armed robbery.

These myths are the most common surrounding bail bondsman. Keep in mind, most bail bondsman services are fairly straightforward. Everything you need to know is told to you by the bondsman at the time of service.

If you have questions regarding specific bondsman services or requesting services, contact Affordable Bail Bonds. We can answer your questions and help you with any services you may need.

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