So your friend or family member has been arrested. Many things are racing through your mind about what to do next. First things first, you need to get them out of jail as soon as possible. Then and only then, can the process of putting their life back together can begin.
So who do you call? Post bail yourselves or hire a bail bondsman? Picking a bail bonds agnecy is a hugely important decision. The quality of bail bond companies in a local marketplace can vary greatly. Even though bail bonds companies can not adjust their fees, they still can offer very different levels of customer service. So it is imperative to understand all of your bail bond options and then hire the bail bondsman that best suits your needs.
A bail bondsman and the company they work for, must be fully licensed by the state in which they operate. For example, someone selling Las Vegas bail should be licensed as a bail bondsman by the state of Nevada.
Another important consideration is the amount of bail bonds industry experience a particular bail bondsman has. Through time in the trenches, a bail bondsman develops a keen understanding of the various local court systems, different detention facilities and all of the processes unique to each venue. An experienced bail bondsman can more easily navigate these systems to provide their client with a quick and expedient release.
Part of customer service in the bail bonds business is flexibility. Although bail bondsmen must charge the same fees, they can provide much different payment plans. For example, some bail bondsmen provide credit card payments, no collateral bonds and sometimes financing. It is a good sign when a bail bondsman takes the time to understand a client's financial position and then provides a solution that fits their needs.
Easy access to your bail bondsman is a critical element of a good bail bond professional. Clients often need to access their bail bondsman at all hours of the day or night. This is not only true while posting the bail bond, but also as the defendant navigates the post release judicial process. Prospective bail bondmen should be willing to provide easy access to all of their clients day or night.
There are a number of factors that differentiate good bail bonds companies from bad ones. It is important to understand how each bail bondsman is different and which one is going to be the best fit for your needs.
