Getting a bail bond for the first time can make an already stressful situation even more daunting and confusing. You’ll probably have a lot of questions when you first contact a bail bond agent, and it’s easy for some of those questions to slip through the cracks and be forgotten in the whirlwind. To make things easier in both the short run and the long run, here are 7 questions you should ask a potential bail bondsman.
- Are you licensed?
- Are you able to help in my area?
- What size bail bonds do you provide?
- What do you charge for your services?
- What payment options do you have?
- How soon can you get me/my loved one out of jail?
- Can you guide me through the bail bonds process?
Are you licensed?
Believe it or not, some bail bond companies may not have your best interests at heart. And some companies may not even be legitimate. The first thing you should ask is what the bail bond agent’s license number is and what their office address is. This ensures you’re working with a legitimate bail bond agency.
Are you able to help in my area?
It’s easy to find bail bond agencies with a Google search. But those agencies may not be based in your state, or they may not have an agent who’s available in your city or county. When searching for a bail bondsman, make sure you find one with an agent in your area.
What size bail bonds do you provide?
Bail amounts can range from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the severity of the alleged crime. Some bail bond agencies can only offer bonds for a certain amount of bail. So you’ll need to find a company that can cover the full amount of your bail.
What do you charge for your services?
It’s common for a bail bondsman to charge 10% of the bail as a fee for their services. You may want to be cautious if they charge significantly more or less than 10%. You’ll also want to know if a bail bond agent will charge any additional fees beyond the 10% fee for service.
What payment options do you have?
A good bail bond company will offer multiple different payment options and payment plans for their customer’s convenience. Here at River City Bail Bonds, we offer flexible payment plans to help make the process more affordable and easier for you or your loved one to get out of jail.
How soon can you get me/my loved one out of jail?
This is probably the first question on your mind when you contact a bail bond company. That’s perfectly normal. Unfortunately, the answer is, “it depends.” Every situation is different, every jail’s release processing time is different, and there are a lot of factors that are out of your and the bail bondsman’s hands.
But while we may not be able to give you an exact time of release, a good bail bond agency will know how long each detainment facility typically takes.
Can you guide me through the bail bonds process?
A good bail bond agency should always say “yes” to this. If they’re knowledgeable, they’ll understand that most people who call them know very little about bail bonds and need guidance through the process. They should be willing to guide you through the bail bond process and give you as much information as possible. This will help with setting expectations throughout the bail bond process.
If you’re looking for a reliable bail bondsman in San Antonio, Texas, River City Bail Bonds is available 24 hours a day. We’ll answer all of your questions and make the process as understandable and stress-free as possible during this difficult time. Contact us today for more information.
