If you are in a position to need a bail bond agency, then things are already bad enough, and the last thing you want is to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous dealers. Because of this, we at Alpha Bonding always recommend that you take the time to vet bail bond agencies before you choose which one to go with–although you obviously want to get your loved one out of jail as soon as possible, you should slow down your search just enough to make sure you are in good hands.
To help make that search process easier, our team has put together this list of red flags you should avoid in a bail bond agency–if you notice any of these things, you should definitely look elsewhere for help.
- No License- Legitimate bail bonds agents are licensed by the state and will be prepared to show that documentation to prove it. If a bail bond agency won’t show you its license, you should keep looking.
- Charges Upfront- Another red flag in a bail bond agency is requiring clients to pay their fee before providing the bond paperwork. Legitimate agencies will deal with all of the necessary paperwork before you pay, and certainly before any contracts are signed.
- “Discounts”- The fees associated with bail bonds aren’t like the prices for other goods or services, as they are set by law and can’t be artificially lowered for the sake of market competition. In Georgia, the fee for a bail bond is 12% for bail amounts less than $10,000, and 15% for amounts greater than $10,000. Anyone offering you a discount is a scammer.