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How To Post Bail With Bad Credit

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No one wants to go to jail, but getting arrested still happens. When arrested, most of the time, one does not necessarily need to stay in jail until the case is heard; they may simply post bail, get out, and await trial from home. The downside of posting bail money is that it may be very expensive.

Bad Credit and Bail

Most people in these cases worry that it might not be possible to be bonded out of jail if they have bad credit. However, you can still post bail and get approved even when you have a bad credit score that is below 650, although you are likely to pay a lot more. Problems start to arise if you have a good credit score but have other implications on the credit report, like civil judgments against you or tax liens, because you will be considered a high risk client. In this case, a bail bondsman could refuse to offer you their services or charge you exceptionally higher rates.

How Much Will Bail Cost With Bad Credit?

In general, if you have bad credit, you should automatically know that you will probably pay more. Bail bonds are usually regulated by insurance departments, with prices between 10 and 15 percent. If you have bad credit, the company may decide to charge you more than 15 percent.

Other Factors Affecting Bail

Excessive bail is typically prohibited, but the amount normally depends on a few circumstances. These factors include the criminal history of the suspect, the nature of the crime they are accused of, employment status and history, as well as the family members who will attend the hearings. The bail appointed should fit the crime. In cases of serious crimes like those punishable by death for instance, suspects are not allowed bail, meaning they have to stay in jail until judgment is passed.

If You Cannot Afford Bail

Most people cannot afford bail money, which means you will usually need to hire bail bond agency like Rader Bonding Co for posting bail. The bail bondsman will pay the bail money at a fee, which is usually about 10 percent of the total bail amount. You have to provide collateral for the money in case you miss a hearing and the court keeps the money.

The thing with bail money is that in most cases it is returned at the end of the trial. Of course, this only happens when the suspect attends all hearings, regardless of whether they are guilty or not of the crime they were accused of. If the suspect does not make an appearance, then the court keeps the bail money.


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