| Families experience a lot of stress when a loved one | | | | and solicit business this way anyway. There can be |
| is in jail. It's a trying emotional time; they're embarrassed, | | | | tension between competing bail bondsmen - as well as |
| worried about finances, and anxious to get their loved | | | | between reputable companies who follow the rules |
| one out of jail as quickly as possible. That combination | | | | and those who don't. |
| leaves people vulnerable to a number of bail bond | | | | In the Connecticut bail bond scandal, Mary Casey, |
| scams and outright fraud. | | | | president of the Connecticut State Surety Association, |
| Don't be caught by one of these schemes. Some can | | | | reported that "fights have erupted in court houses" |
| be costly; most are illegal. The last thing you want is to | | | | between bail agents trying to solicit the same clients. |
| have your bail bondsman sharing your cell instead of | | | | Even worse, from an ethical and legal standpoint, is the |
| bailing you out! | | | | practice of paying kickbacks via reduced bail fees to |
| Be wary if any bail agent approaches you with one of | | | | jail inmates who refer other arrestees to the bail bond |
| these offers: | | | | company. Word of mouth advertising is one thing, but |
| 1. "Psst.... Have I got a deal for you!" | | | | this practice is illegal. |
| Bail agents who charge too little | | | | Any bail agent who does this is in danger of losing his |
| "Cheap bail bonds" may seem like a good deal, but | | | | or her license and could even face felony charges and |
| they're not. Some bail agents promise "cheap bail" or | | | | jail time. Ask yourself: "What kind of business is this |
| "5% bail" or another amount that's much lower than the | | | | person running that he has people in jail drumming up |
| 10% bail bond premium required by law in most states. | | | | business for him?" |
| A company that offers a cut rate is likely either | | | | 3. "So, I heard your brother's in jail" |
| advertising deceptively or blatantly violating the law. | | | | Bail agents who solicit business outside the jail. |
| For instance, if the court sets a bail amount of $25,000, | | | | It's illegal to cold call potential clients and solicit business, |
| the bail premium - the fee that you pay to a bail | | | | but some bail agents do it anyway. |
| bondsman - is usually 10% of the total, or $2500. You | | | | Unscrupulous agents obtain booking information online |
| pay that fee to the bail agent, who then promises the | | | | and track loved ones via the Internet. When a potential |
| court that the defendant will show up for court | | | | relative of an arrestee is identified, the rogue agent |
| appearances and thus arranges release from jail. The | | | | calls to offer services. If a bail agent ever calls you on |
| bail agent keeps the bail premium as a fee for | | | | behalf of someone in jail, find out who called the agent |
| assuming the liability of the full amount of the bond. | | | | with the request. Be suspicious if the agent refuses to |
| You may see a bail bond company advertise "5% bail | | | | tell you or tells you they obtained the information from |
| bonds" - which would mean a bail bond fee of $1250 | | | | the police or online. |
| instead of $2500 on a $25,000 bond. That sounds like | | | | Simply put, in the bail industry, a client must contact a |
| a great deal over the phone, and we all jump at the | | | | bail agent. It is illegal for a bondsman to call and offer |
| chance to save money. | | | | unrequested services. Calling a family member is |
| Unfortunately, once at the bail agent's office, many are | | | | perfectly legal if the defendant contacts the bail |
| surprised to find out that the bail company will take 5% | | | | bondsman first and asks the bondsman to do so. But if |
| in cash or credit cards as a down payment and | | | | a bail agent calls you - and the person in jail didn't call |
| finance the balance, likely with interest. | | | | them first - then the agent is acting illegally. Don't deal |
| It's a classic "bait and switch." But with a loved one | | | | with that person - he or she may not even be an |
| sitting in jail and no guarantee that any other bail agent | | | | actual bail bondsman. |
| would act any differently, most people just go ahead | | | | That was the case in a related bail bond scam |
| and sign the paperwork. This practice isn't illegal, but it is | | | | reported in Norfolk, VA. Swindlers called and/or visited |
| misleading. | | | | elderly people and told them that a loved one was in |
| Many reputable bail bond companies offer financing, | | | | jail and needed bail money. The fake bail agents took |
| often without interest charges, and will arrange this | | | | the money, promised to get the person out of jail, and |
| with you in advance, rather than trick you into coming | | | | disappeared. |
| to their office with false assumptions. | | | | And in Houston, TX, another bail bond con artist stood |
| A practice that is illegal though, is for any bail agent to | | | | outside a bail bond company and intercepted clients. |
| charge less than the rate established by law. Bail | | | | He told them the office was closed, but he could still |
| agents can lose their license and have their businesses | | | | write the bond if they paid the bail premium to him in |
| shut down. | | | | cash. Of course, he took the money and disappeared. |
| The state of Connecticut is currently dealing with a bail | | | | Unfortunately, these scams play into the misconception |
| bond scandal whereby bail bondsmen routinely charge | | | | that people have about the bail bond industry as a |
| only 2-3% of the bail amount. According to reports, | | | | shady, underhanded kind of business. True, some bail |
| Connecticut judges know this happens and routinely | | | | agents are unethical, but there are thousands of |
| set very high bail amounts to make up for the | | | | honest bail bond agents. Why deal with someone who |
| "discounts" being given by bail agents. This raises the | | | | cuts corners? |
| cost for all defendants and undermines faith in the | | | | While it may seem as though a bail bondsman is |
| system. | | | | offering you a great deal, be careful. Everybody loves |
| 2. "Don't like being in jail? Let me help!" | | | | a bargain, but ask yourself why this person is offering |
| Bail agents who solicit business inside jail lobbies - or | | | | an arrangement that's so different from other bail |
| even jail cells. | | | | agents. |
| As with bail bond pricing, state laws regulate when and | | | | Responsible, licensed bail agents work within the |
| how bail agents can solicit business. Some agents | | | | system and play by the rules. You can count on them |
| walk a fine line between flouting and following the rules. | | | | to treat you fairly. But if a bail agent doesn't respect |
| Bail agents are prohibited from hanging out in the jail | | | | the system and follow the law, you probably can't trust |
| and offering bail services. Some agents ignore this law | | | | them to treat clients with any more consideration. |