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