Beware of Bail Coupons or Discounts

The Florida State Legislature has determined the cost of a bail bond to be set at exactly 10% of the total bail. This fee is non-negotiable and is consistent for every bail bondsman. At least for now, this can be considered to be written in stone and yet many people still believe that bail bondsmen can choose how much they wish to charge their clients.

The set price of the bonds is a guarantee that no bail agent can ever take advantage of an individual’s desperation. The bonds are meant to be affordable for the average person and they are supposed to help prevent overcrowding in jails.

Negotiating a payment plan to more manageable monthly payments cannot alter the original amount of the bond either through interest or other hidden charges. 10% is 10% and anything more is illegal and fraud. Coupons or discounts are not allowed either.

A red flag should wave boldly in front of your face if any company claims they can cut the original price of a bail bond. Sites like Groupon have their legitimate place on the Internet but not in the highly regulated. Bail-bond industry.

Most Florida-based bail bond businesses are reputable and rely on their integrity to maintain their reputations and gain new clients. One way to separate the fraudulent from the honest is to ask to see a potential bail agent‘s license. Don’t be shy about it; this will only be problematic if they DON’T have one!

There are many bail bond companies in Florida, and they are all competing with each other. Unfortunately, this venue does attract its share of fly-by-nights, eager to make a buck at any cost.

If an offer to secure a bond seems too good to be true; it probably is. Arm yourself by understanding the correct course of action, process, and the law for the bail bonds industry before selecting a reliable bail bondsman.

In addition to avoiding promises of discounts and coupons, be wary of any bail company that is quick to determine a set response about turn around time for a defendant’s release after bail is posted. Estimated times frames are one thing, but the process is too dependent on other factors, such as the judge’s schedule and discretion, jail workload, etc. for anyone to guarantee a certain time frame. Be wary of any bail agent that promises that they can have the defendant released quicker than any other bail agent.

In conclusion, you cannot solve legal issues with a fraudulent company. While this seems obvious, personal desperation at a difficult time can often cloud an issue and distort the need for caution.

Know about an industry before you step into its borders. Education will always increase your chances of receiving the best quality services.

Caveat emptor always.

This article was first Posted by M Dee Dubroff, on July 23, 2012 at 9:00 AM @ http://www.bailbondsman.org/bail-bonds-resources/beware-of-california-bail-bond-coupons-10623/#sthash.AEXZ6CJu.dpuf    The article has been modified from its original state to include bail bonds in Florida.

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