What happens if you can’t pay back a bail bond? You could face legal and financial consequences and put bond co–signers in a tough spot. If you or someone you love needs to get out of jail, talk to an experienced Columbus bail bond agent who can help secure your release and set you up with a plan to pay back your bond.
We Can Design a Plan to Help You Pay Back Your Bond
After an arrest, your priority is getting released from jail. Securing that release often requires paying bail. If you cannot pay the amount, a bail bond agent can help.
We promise the court to pay your full bail amount if you do not uphold all conditions of your release. In return for this service, you pay us 10% of your total bail amount.
Sometimes, paying that 10% fee upfront is difficult. Your bail may be set high, or you may be low on funds. Even so, getting a bond on a limited budget is still possible. We can create a payment plan so you
can pay back your bond in stages. We are committed to finding a solution that works for all of us.
Your bond agent will also stay in regular communication with you after your release. We can provide support, reminding you of the steps you need to take to stay in compliance and avoid a bail revocation or full bail-amount repayment to us. We will also keep you updated on your bond-payment schedule, so you do not fall behind.
Call (614) 221-0100 today to speak with our experienced Ohio bail bondsman!
You Can Face Legal Consequences if You Can’t Pay Back a Bond
If you can’t pay back a bond, you can face legal consequences. Your bond agent may cancel your agreement, and you could be taken back into custody.
Then, it becomes harder for you to secure release. The court will likely see you as untrustworthy, and you will have a hard time finding a bond agent willing to work with you.
While in jail, you have fewer opportunities to participate in your defense. You do not have the freedom to speak with your attorney whenever you want to or to do your own research.
Bail conditions also hurt your physical, emotional, and mental well-being, further diminishing your ability to advocate for yourself. By failing to pay back your bond and landing back in jail, you could damage your case outcome.
The bond agency could also file a civil lawsuit against you. They can hold you responsible for the original bond, late fees, and other penalties. You could end up having to pay far more than the 10% fee included in your agreement.
The Financial Fallout of Failing to Make Bond Payments
If you can’t pay back a bond, you can experience serious financial problems. The unpaid debt damages your credit score. To recoup their losses, the bond agency may seek wage garnishment or seize your assets. You can also lose any collateral you put up in your bond agreement.
If your financial situation is unstable, the bond agent may require collateral to secure your agreement. There are different types of bail collateral, such as real estate, vehicles, or other items matching the value of your bond.
Ohio’s laws on surety bail bond agent conduct codify what a bail bond agent can and cannot do when handling agreements involving collateral.
Ohio law requires a surety bail bond agent to be qualified, licensed, and appointed, so do not enter into an agreement unless the agent proves their qualifications. A licensed agency will make the terms of your agreement clear, support you through your repayment, and handle your property lawfully.
Your Co-Signer Could Pay the Penalty if You Can’t Pay Back a Bond
Bail bond agencies often require a cosigner for bail bond agreements. A trustworthy bond agent will explain what it means to be a cosigner for a bail bond to anyone considering taking on this role. If you cannot pay back a bond or you flee to avoid payment, you put your co-signer in a bad situation.
The bond agency may seek bond repayment from your co-signer. If the agency had to pay the court your full bail because of your non-compliance, they may hold your co–signer accountable for that amount. If the co-signer put up their own property as collateral for the agreement, they could lose that collateral.
The co-signer could also face the same financial consequences you could for your failure to pay, including wage garnishment, asset seizure and property liens, damaged credit scores, and legal action from the bond agency.
Contact our bail bondsman today at (614) 221-0100 to get your bail bond now!
You Can’t Outrun a Bail Bond
If you are struggling to pay back a bond, do not try to avoid the consequences by running away. Bail bond agencies do not typically “cut their losses” when a client skips bail. They will try to find the client to make the exact payment.
Ohio law forbids illegal bail bond agent practice, so you do not have to fear capture by “bounty hunters.” Still, the law allows law enforcement agents, private investigators, and licensed surety bondsmen to apprehend clients who have fled. Your bond agent may also turn your case over to a collections agency, which will also seek you out.
Communicate with your bail bond agent if you have trouble repaying a bond. Finding a solution to your payment issues serves your best interests and the agency’s. There may be a way to adjust your payment plan or hold your collateral temporarily until you pay your bond.
Our bail bondsman is available 24/7. Call us at (614) 221-0100
We Can Help You Get Out of Jail and Pay Back Your Bond
If you need help paying bail and getting out of jail, Andy Callif Bail Bonds is here to help. We will explain all aspects of our potential bond agreement before you or anyone else signs on the dotted line.
We will take you through the bail process and create a payment plan so you do not have to worry about what happens if you can’t pay back a bond.
Our Ohio bail bondsman is available 24/7, call us (614) 221-0100!