Unfortunately, like in so many industries in our modern world, there are unethical individuals who will pose as a legitimate bail bond business to separate you from your money while your loved one remains in jail. These people prey on the common need to get your loved one out from behind bars as soon as possible. They rely on people not knowing the ins and outs of the bail bond industry, laws and procedures. With the tips below, you will be able to recognize a scammer from the outset, avoid being taken advantage of, and get your loved one released without a problem.
Avoid Solicitors
The first big red flag to look out for is for someone approaching you and offering bond services to get your loved one out of jail. This also commonly happens right outside of courthouses or detention centers. A legitimate bail bonds agency will never solicit your business, anyone who does is either not an actual bail bondsman or is an unethical one who may try to take advantage of you.
Check their Credentials
All legitimate bail bond agencies are going to be licensed by a local government agency. If they are legitimate, they should have no problems showing you their license, and most likely it will be prominently displayed at their place of business. If you are thinking about working with someone who makes excuses about why they can’t show you their license or just flat-out refuses to show you their credentials, you should take this as a big red flag and walk away.
There is no such thing as a Discount Bond
The rates that a bail bondsman can charge are set by the State in which they do business. Usually, this is somewhere around 10% of the total bond amount. If you are working with someone who tries to entice your business by offering you a steep discount like 5% instead of 10%, it is most likely that they are operating illegally or not an actual bail bondsman, and are going to take the money and then disappear.
Take a look at what their customers have to say
Just like any other business, bail bondsmen rely on marketing, having a public presence, and reviews from their customers. A quick search should allow you to find the business and see what their customers have to say about how they work and the type of service you can expect. If it doesn’t sound like they are on the up and up or there are a lot of poor reviews, save yourself the headaches and take your business elsewhere.
As you can see, Bail Bondsmen operate like any other normal business, they should be licensed, operate within normal fee ranges, and hopefully do good work and can show some good reviews. While the entire process can be a little intimidating and stressful knowing that your loved one is waiting for you to get them released, taking the time to make sure you are dealing with a legitimate business will save you from more trouble. If you are in the market for a bail bondsman in Colorado, then you can feel good about working with All Day All Night Bail Bonds. We are licensed, reliable, and one of the biggest bond providers in the state. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us anytime.
