No one ever said that being a bail agent was an easy business. If you are thinking about changing careers, then there are a few things you need to know about the business.
Being a bail bond agent is not for everyone. It is dealing with the public and dealing with law enforcement personnel. If you know the pitfalls and dangers, along with pertinent information, then you may discover that this job is the ideal profession you have been searching for your entire life.
The process of using a bail agent is pretty simple. You get arrested and a judge posts how much money it will take for you to leave the jail. You call a bail bond agency and the agent is notified to come to the jail to get you out. A ten percent fee of the total bond is paid and you are free to go until your court date. You will want to check in with the agent on a regular basis though.
Bail Bond agents are usually trained on the job though there are classes a person can take to become an agent. These classes are usually held locally and focus on the local laws, as well as the proper paperwork procedure for each bond written. Further classes can teach the bail bond agent to also be a bail enforcement agent, also known as a bounty hunter, in case the defendant skips out on the bond.
Skipping out on one is when the defendant does not show up to his or her court appearance. It is then forfeited until the time that the bounty hunter or bondsman can track down the individual and deliver them to the jail.
This is obviously the riskier side of the job but there are other things to consider as well, such as hours that vary. Many agents are awakened in the middle of the night and must not be far from their phone. This can make life a bit difficult when trying to plan around work hours.
There is something to keep in mind when wondering about the pay of a bail agent. It is important to keep in mind that there are no guarantees of making money in this line of work.
There are many factors such as population, reputation and advertising that play huge factors in how much business you will receive. Stan Wilson of Bail Bonds Now says, “One month it may be great money and the next there may be only a few bonds written.”
