Guilty or not, nobody wants to be arrested and spend several days in jail. However, no matter how careful you are, you are bound to run into trouble with the law even if it is just a speeding ticket or any other infraction. If you’ve done everything possible to stay out of harm’s way but still find yourself in trouble with the local or state authorities, the first thing you want to do is figure out how to get out of jail fast and resume your normal daily schedule as you await trial. This means you have to bail yourself out with a promise to attend all court sessions until your case is behind you.
However, not everyone has a bag of cash lying somewhere with no work to do and can use it to post bail. If you cannot afford bail, you need a reliable 24/7 Bondsman to bail you or your loved one out of jail. So, how do you know which bail bonds firm to hire for the job? Below are the tips to help you make that critical decision and bail a defendant out of jail.
Do your due diligence. Research your potential bail bond company before hiring them. Ask a friend or colleague who has been in trouble before and sought the services of a bail bonds company to make some recommendations. You can also check reviews online on websites such as the Better Business Bureau or similar sites and find out what people are saying about a company’s services.
Find out how much they charge for their services. This is perhaps one of the most important things to look at to determine whether you can afford them. Some states impose a minimum of 10% as the fee bail bond companies should charge for their services. However, some companies may still offer discounts to attract business their way. So, you may want to find out whether they are trustworthy or unscrupulous because this can make all the difference between bailing a loved one out and letting them spend some more nights in jail.
The experience of the company is also an important factor to consider. Have they handled cases such as this in the past? Have they been in business long enough to understand how the bail bond business and justice system work? These are some of the most important questions to ask because experienced bail bonds firms have networked with the right people, including criminal defense attorneys and law enforcement agencies, and can maneuver the system in their clients’ favor to bail them out fast. Experienced firms have also handled several cases and know how to react to challenges that come up in the process.
You might also want to see their license to ensure they qualify and are allowed to operate legally. Avoid those with restricted or suspended licenses and demonstrate a history of customer service complaints. Once everything is in order, find out about their payment options (check, credit card, etc.) and ask for a written bail contract that outlines the bail amount, fees or interest rates, payment schedules, and any other payment terms in the event the defendant jumps bail.
Hiring a bail bond company should be easy if you understand how the bail bond system works. Just do your due diligence and follow these tips and everything will be fine.
