Common Myths About Bail Bonds

Our team at Alpha Bonding has been working in the bail bonds industry since 1992. In the past 33+ years, we have encountered all kinds of preconceptions about what we do, as well as a great deal of misunderstanding. In this article, we’ll go over some of the most common myths and mistaken ideas people believe about bail bonds and provide accurate information in their place.

• Myth: Bail bondsman service fees are refundable. – This myth comes from a misunderstanding about bail vs. the service fees bail bonds agents charge. Bail is the amount you pay to be released from jail until your trial, and this is the amount that will be refunded after your court appearances are completed. Our service fee is a charge for our services and is not part of the bail, so we do not refund this charge.
• Myth: Paying bail means you’re free to go. – Whether you pay bail in cash or you offer collateral to a bail bond company that pays for you, you are not legally free after bail is paid. You will be released from jail, yes, but you still have obligations to appear in court until the matter of your legal charges is settled. In fact, if you use our services but then fail to appear in court, it becomes our responsibility to track you down and bring you back.
• Myth: Bail bonds companies are unregulated. – Although the regulations for bail bonds companies vary from state to state, all must abide by some level of government restriction and oversight.