Bail bondsmen get a bad rep, and for many reasons. Many see them as greedy, as immoral for letting criminals back on the street. Many also see the entire industry as shady. None of these are true, except that they do, with the proper avenues and resources, allow those who have been charged to “bond out” of jail. While many disagree with letting dangerous criminals out on the street, it is their right to bond out if they have the resources to do so. For many families every day, a bail bondsman can help put a family back together, even if it is temporary.
What many do not understand about bail bondsmen is that the company is entirely legit, and court-supported. When someone bonds out, the bondsman posts 100% of the bond with the court, and they take 10%, which is often the only thing that the offender or his or her family pays (i.e., a $5,000 bond would be settled with $500 cash). The bail bondmen company earns their money whether the offender is found to be guilty or not guilty. The majority of agencies also require a co-signer when someone posts bond. This is good for two reasons: First, the offender will need transportation from the jail, and many times the co-signer is that transportation, and second, the co-signer can help keep the offender out of trouble, as well as work as a support system. The bail bondsmen lose out on their money when someone does not appear in court – and it isn’t just that 10%, but the entire bond fee.
Another issue concerns how a bail bondsmen agency processes their payments. Many companies have merchant accounts, but this can be hard to find for bail bondsmen agencies. The vast majority of providers do not offer bail bonds merchant accounts, or if they do, they are not experienced enough in the industry to deal with the ups and downs. You need to make sure that your bail bonds merchant account is in the hands of a reliable and experienced provider, like EMB. Not only does your business depend on it, but also your livelihood depends on it.