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Question about Bail Bonds

cletus85cletus85 Member Posts: 2,104 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited May 2007 in General Discussion
I've never had any first hand experience with this business, thank God[:D] and would like someone to explain how this process works. Here's the story.... my Wife's worthless daughter's husband was arrested for a domestic violence charge and the bond was set at $10,000... of course my wife's daughter bonded him out with help of a payday loan[V]


My question is what does a typical bondsman charge for their service? In other words what did this cost my wife's daughter? Not counting the stupid payday loan[:(!]

Thanks for explaining this to me[;)]

Comments

  • COLTCOLT Member Posts: 12,637 ******
    edited November -1
    ...usually the average is 15% of the amount of the bond...so, $1,500...[;)]

    ani-texas-flag-1.gif
  • zipperzapzipperzap Member Posts: 25,057
    edited November -1
    Used to be 10% of the bail.

    ... my condolences![:o)]
  • cletus85cletus85 Member Posts: 2,104 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That's what I thought guys... Thanks for reassuring me[:o)] The good part is he had to set in jail for a week until she could come up with money. She didn't understand why we wouldn't help[:D]
  • zipperzapzipperzap Member Posts: 25,057
    edited November -1
    Nothing is as blind as love ... or a sailor aboard a ship for the
    past six months![:o)]
  • Stink FootStink Foot Member Posts: 897 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you gots more than one bondsman in your area you might can do a little horse trading. Yep.
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    i did it for a few years, you put up the bondsmen fee, but you are liable for the entire amount if something should arise, in any case you will not see a refund what so ever, if you where to find a "general bondsman" you could get that for around 800 bucks with good references, who ever signed for it better make sure he shows up for court


    my business cards looked like monopoly get out of jail card, 1-800 set-u- free, i know more than 7 numbers


    trivia : why do bond agancies have names like AA or AAA?
  • jbw1776jbw1776 Member Posts: 3,056
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
    i did it for a few years, you put up the bondsmen fee, but you are liable for the entire amount if something should arise, in any case you will not see a refund what so ever, if you where to find a "general bondsman" you could get that for around 800 bucks with good references, who ever signed for it better make sure he shows up for court


    my business cards looked like monopoly get out of jail card, 1-800 set-u- free, i know more than 7 numbers


    trivia : why do bond agancies have names like AA or AAA?

    First in the phone book?

    Ben
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    yep, to easy huh!
  • p3skykingp3skyking Member Posts: 25,750
    edited November -1
    Sometimes, if all parties are willing, a bush bond can be made and little or no money change hands.
  • TooBigTooBig Member Posts: 28,560 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Payday loans can eat your money up fast.
  • hk-91hk-91 Member Posts: 10,050
    edited November -1
    +1 damn things should be outlawed. i get calles all the time from them because my sister inlaw uses them and gives them our number.

    quote:Originally posted by fshfndr
    Payday loans can eat your money up fast.
  • sotheresothere Member Posts: 1,414 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    99% intrest[:0]
  • CaptplaidCaptplaid Member Posts: 20,296 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm confused. What service does a bail bondsman serve? Can't a person just pay the bail themselves without going through the bondsman?
  • BeeramidBeeramid Member, Moderator Posts: 7,264 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Captplaid
    I'm confused. What service does a bail bondsman serve? Can't a person just pay the bail themselves without going through the bondsman?


    Yes they can, but if you go through a bondsman then you'll pay the 12-15% of the actual bond. After you show up for court the bondsman gets refunded his money and you are out the 12-15%.
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,664 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sorry for your bad luck. Should have let the woman beating SOB rot in jail.
  • CaptplaidCaptplaid Member Posts: 20,296 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    So if you pay the bond yourself, you have to pay the entire thing, but through a bondsman you only have to pay the 12-15 percent?
  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Captplaid
    I'm confused. What service does a bail bondsman serve? Can't a person just pay the bail themselves without going through the bondsman?

    Sure, if you've got the bucks. Usually the people who need bail money are the same people who ain't got no money. The bondsman is just loaning you the money to get out of jail, but he doesn't actually put up the money unless you don't show up in court. You sign a contract giving up most of your constitutional rights in case you jump bail.
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
  • Colt SuperColt Super Member Posts: 31,007
    edited November -1
    Yep - but it isn't like "paying" because if you pay the full amount, after the court appearance is made, you get the whole works back. A bondsman guarantees that you will appear, and if you don't he will pay the full amount from his pocket. If you use a bondsman, you are paying a 12 percent fee for him taking the risk that you may or may not appear.

    Gee - I sound way too familiar with this process.

    Doug
  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Captplaid
    So if you pay the bond yourself, you have to pay the entire thing, but through a bondsman you only have to pay the 12-15 percent?

    It's just a bond to guarantee you will appear in court. Not necessarily cash up front. If you are a property owner, they usually let you sign a bail contract with the court that if you don't show up, the judge owns your house. The 12% - 15% is just the vig on a loan.
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,041 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm glad that someone pointed out that the 15% is just to write the bond. You have to put up personal or real property at or above the bail amount and sign it over to the bondsman to actually get out of jail. And they are particularly harsh in collecting on that real/personal property if you miss a court appearance.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
  • phillipphillip Member Posts: 2,948
    edited November -1
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