The more information you collect from a bail applicant, the better for you. So, what to focus on when gathering the information? Where to find a reliable bail bond merchant account? This article will tell you what and where.
Bail Bond Merchant Account and Applicant Info
Let’s start with a bail bondsman or bail bondsperson who’s also known as a bail bond agent or bond dealer. Well, this is the very person, agency or corporation that acts as a surety and pledge money or property as bail for the appearance of a defendant in court. By the way, the first modern bail bonds business in the US dates back to 1898. It was established by Peter P. McDonough in San Francisco.
It’s too important to gather as much info as possible about the bail applicant. In case, the applicant has lied to you about any information, it could be viewed as an intent to breach the Terms & Conditions of the application for bail and other bond contract forms. It could also imply an intent to fail to appear in court. So, be careful.
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How to Collect Info from a Bail Applicant
Here’s the information to always collect from bail applicants (make sure that the applicant’s handwriting is legible):
- How did he/she hear about your company? This is important from the marketing aspect.
- First, middle, and last name. A middle name serves as an identifier to help you cut your search.
- The Social Security Number (SSN). This 9-digit number assigned by the federal government is the “most unique identifier.”
- When and where was he/she born? The city and state. If it’s outside of the US, ask about the city, region, and country.
- If your client is an alien, get that client’s I.N.S. A#.
- The email address: this is important for “social networking” investigations, “side-tracking” investigations, and more.
- The applicant’s height, weight, hair and eye colors. Together with the applicant’s photograph(s), this info will help you search for wayward bail clients. Is he/she right-handed, left-handed, or ambidextrous?
- The color, year, make, model and license plate number for the vehicles associated with his/her household.
- Current phone number(s). Is it landline or mobile?
- Current Residence like street address, building/apartment number, etc. The same refers to his/her most recent previous address.
- An electric bill, gas bill, phone bill, cable or satellite TV bill, mortgage bill, rental contract for an apartment, and more. A photocopy won’t do.
- Info on his/her current employer.
- Proof of employment like paycheck stubs, Union Membership Documentation, and even W-2 forms.
- If he/she has a job, know when he/she will be at work so that you can schedule a time or an appointment for apprehension.
- Contact information from his/her references. Make sure the info is complete.
- Does he/she have any previous arrests? Know the arrest date and location, the charge(s), the final outcome/disposition of the case, or whether he/she is on probation/parole.
- Has he/she ever been bailed out of jail? Know the date of having been bailed out of jail, and the bail bond company that bailed him/her out of jail. Is he/she still out on bond?
- The high school he/she attended, the last year of attendance, the city and state of that high school, and the cross streets of it.
When somebody gets arrested, he/she is generally taken to a local law enforcement station for processing and booking. After this process, the jail or court may set bail and arraignment. This is when the defendant must post the bail bond amount or make arrangements with a reliable bail bond service to have a bond posted so to get out of jail.