A bail bonds company is not exactly the kind of business you want to associate with, but it’s good to know of a good one in the event that the unthinkable occurs and you find yourself or a loved one arrested for some wrongdoing.
The main purpose of the company is to make sure that the accused, its client, is able to post bail in order to get him or her released from jail. If you find yourself in need of finding a good bondsman to help you, make sure that you keep the following considerations in mind.
License – Make sure that you only do business with somebody qualified to take care of bail bonds. Hollister, CA bondsmen should be licensed by the California Department of Insurance; those who aren’t have no business negotiating and posting bond. Find out if your bondsman of choice has a current and valid license with which he or she is in good standing.
Rates – The going rates are legally mandated and may differ from state to state. Typically, your bondsman will charge you eight to 15 percent of the total amount of the bail. Beware of any bargain rate as it usually means something fishy.
Process – The process is the same for all companies dealing with bail bonds; clients should be able to expect the professional they engage to explain it accurately to them. First and foremost, it involves the bondsman collecting some information regarding the situation to assess the risks of doing business with you. After this, the clients will arrange payment as well as take care of the bond documents, which typically includes a bail bond application, indemnity agreement, and receipt.
Speed of release process – This is actually beyond the bondsman’s control, but any good professional should be able to give you an idea how long it would take for the arrested to be released as well as ensure that no delay is caused by your side.
Location – There are bondsmen doing business in states that they are not physically located in. If you engage such a person, you would probably end up paying more because of a posting fee which, in effect, involves your bondsman paying another professional to do the actual posting of bail. Save yourself some time and money by hiring somebody who is easily able to go to the jail involved.
Keep in mind that the bond process differs from state to state, but these criteria for choosing a bondsman should apply wherever you may be.