The first reaction you might have to the news that a friend or family member has gotten arrested might be shock or even fear. It’s important to remain calm in this trying time and take the steps that will be in the best interest of your loved one.
One of the best things you can do is get your loved one out from behind bars, and do that you’ll need to find a reliable bondsman service. Not everyone knows what to look for in a reliable bondsman, but you certainly want to find someone you can rely on and trust.
Need help finding a reliable bondsman for your situation? Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know.
Complies With Industry Standards
When you have a family member behind bars, you’ll do anything to get them back to the safety and comfort of home. You want to act fast, but you don’t want to move so fast that you work with a bail bondsman that isn’t reliable or trustworthy.
You’ll want to ensure the bail bondsman you work with complies with industry standards. A bail bond agent who is complying with these standards should offer up to 15% of the set bail amount. In many states, this bond fee is a fixed number set down by law. It’s important to get familiar with bail laws where you live, as they can vary state by state.
Bail bond agents who attempt to secure smaller deals may be working to try and make a fast buck. It’s better to stick with an agent who plays things by the books unless a special situation (like a very large bail amount) is in play.
A High BBB Score
The Better Business Bureau is a private not-for-profit organization that exists to protect consumers from businesses with bad practices. Bail bondsmen are one of the many industries the Better Business Bureau looks into, evaluates, and scores.
Looking at the BBB score for the bondsman you might work with can give you a good idea if they are trustworthy or not. The BBB page for that business should also allow you to see if there are any pending complaints made against that individual.
A clean BBB page isn’t a guarantee that a bondsman will be great to work with, but it certainly is a smart bit of research to do.
Clear and Communicative
You might have never had a family member behind bars before. As such, you may be new to the process. You want to work with a bail bondsman who is clear and communicative with you.
Working with someone who is patient, articulate, and concise about how the bail process works can be important if you’re navigating this process for the first time.
The last thing you want is to work with someone who isn’t going to take the time to explain to you what’s going on or why.
Finding a Reliable Bondsman Service
If you’re in a time of need, it’s essential you find a reliable bondsman service to help you out. The above tips can point you in the right direction in terms of finding trustworthy help.
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