Split bonds-Property/Surety

I wrote bonds for 5 years before I ever wrote a 25K, just wasn't comfortable with it. I see new people come into this business that will throw 100k bonds like they are dealing cards. Closer look reveals that they live in an apartment and are for the most part, judgment proof. When i came into this business, you had to have property with significant equity, cash on hand, and pay a significant build up fund start up. We are also seeing insurance companies promoting no liability bonds. In my opinion, this will be the end to the Goose that laid the Golden Egg. They are taking anywhere from 0 to 3% down and the liability goes to the insurance company. My issues are that this does not teach a new bondsman how to write correctly, it leaves the judges with a poor opinion of commercial bail (these companies will often file bankruptcy and open up under a new name with all of the same phone numbers) lending to the judges opinions that there is no viable surety standing behind the bonds which discredits the good surety insurers. By the time you make the attempts to tie a bond up properly, with verified signers and decent jobs, collateral etc., on e of these bondsman will write the bond for a significant discount and not require any verification, collateral etc.

Just venting...

Scott

_________________
R.E. "Scott" MacLean III

"Leaders are like Eagles, you never see them in a flock, but one at a time"

Chesapeake Group Investigations, Inc.
Chesapeake Bail Bonds
877-574-0500
301-392-1100 (fax)
301-392-1900 (Office)

I know exactly how you feel Scott.... I pride myself in being a professional and I work extremely hard to maintain my good name and reputation and I get undercut by bondsman that run into an area, write a bond, throw up a bunch of cards, stick their names up, write for 6 months or so...... get a couple of FTA...then forfeitures... disappear and leave everyone with a bad rap and it infuriates me but what can you do. I don't bad mouth anyone because I don't want the same coming at me but it is extremely difficult to remain above board and cool headed when this crap comes down on ya... I get calls constantly from people that tell me that I am the first bondsman that answered the phone or the first that was not disconnected or the first that said I would come now or work with them... I do not know where this business is going but I will hold on and continue to do it the right way.... and if I am forced to resort to the tactics I am seeing.... I will get out of the business... on that, you may hold me to my word. I will apply for a job as a magistrate.

Nothing makes me feel more satisfied than to receive a thank you card from a mother for whom I bonded her son and followed along till the case was done, or a note from someone thanking me for being so helpful on a case.... doesn't happen real often but when it does it makes you feel like your doing a good job.... especially when they refer someone else to me or call me on a follow up case.... what I refer to as a "frequent flyer".

_________________
Bill Marx, Sr.
"FREE STATE BAIL BONDS"
"FREE STATE INVESTIGATIONS"
DCJS: 99-176979
Cell: 434-294-0222

"Endeavor to Persevere" "Lone Watie"

"Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that , comes from bad judgment" "Will Rogers"

Ditto . . . we are not underwritten by Insurance Companies . . . nor is an Out Of State Bond accepted here.

_________________


Do not consider anything for your interest which makes you break your word, quit your modesty, or inclines you to any practice which will not bear the light, or look the world in the face .... Marcus Antonius

I AM Some Folks "KARMA" and A MODERATOR @ FRN

Bill and Scott,

I do vent very often about the 'scumbags" in the business. However I usually do my ventinmg in the back office with the door closed so no one can hear or see me.

But I too enjoy getting the heart felt thanks from the parent, spouse or friend of people we have "helped."

So far I have received 3 marriage proposals from the mothers of some of our clients. Two requests to be the god parent and one offer of adoption.

I, we, will not resort to the no money down way of doing business. We pay our forfeitures on time and without seeking some obscure technicality to get off the bond.

I recently was in court on a motion for an extension of time. It was granted. The clerk asked the judge what will happen on the next date if I didn't have the defendant.

The judge said that the bail agent would be back in filing another motion.

I went back to the mic and stated that if I didn't have the defendant by then, I will be here with a check in my hand for the $10,000, the full bail amount!

I have run across several of the fly-by-night bondsmen as well. They see dollar signs, and don't consider the consequences. They don't pay their insurance company, or their forfeitures. Six months is usually the max time for them. My state also now requires an agent to be authorized by an insurance company to renew their license. This prevents agents that are inactive, or have lost their insurance authorizations to hold a license.

Unless the person has experience with another bond company, I usually get the firsr call. If we can't come to an agreement, they call somebody else. My requirements and fees are what they are. If I can't make money, I don't need the hassle, cos those are the ones that usually get chased. This is especially true with smaller bonds. If the person or their cosigners can't come up with a few hundred, not to mention any collateral, they can't pay the bond if the person runs. Of course, nobody will EVER miss court . At least not while they are in jail .

_________________
Kathy Blackshear
Blackshear Investigations
Blackshear Bail Bonds
Sales Associate, Prepaid Legal Services, Inc.
Walsenburg, CO

Proud Member of the AB Reject Club

Kathy, your just not a very trusting person... you should be ashamed... even people with no money need to be bonded...

I remember a particular bond for $25K that I wrote with no collateral... No other bondsman would touch it... a drug case and firearms charge on an already convicted felon... I had 5 different family members sign on the bond... it took them a week but they did come up with all $2500... they were all on the deed to a piece of land on the lake down here in southern VA... they had inherited it from their grandmother.... about 15 acres on Lake Gaston.... no deed of trust, I just got all their signatures on the bonding agreement and other assorted papers........ enough........ I told them after the release that it was ok if he did not go to court!!!!!!!!!!!! I sure did want a piece of property on the lake......... I was smiling but they got the message immediately.

He was at every court appearance over the next 9 months.... 5 to be exact... and he was 30 minutes early and all 5 were with him at each appearance... I have never seen a more nervous family in court.... but they all escorted him to each appearance and after the finalization, they all called me, thanked me for bonding him and ask for a written release, which I provided with a letter to thank them for HIS and their cooperation. The defendant got 1 year, which will compute in VA to less than 6 months.

I always say........ "when you do a bond, you roll the dice."

_________________
Bill Marx, Sr.
"FREE STATE BAIL BONDS"
"FREE STATE INVESTIGATIONS"
DCJS: 99-176979
Cell: 434-294-0222

"Endeavor to Persevere" "Lone Watie"

"Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that , comes from bad judgment" "Will Rogers"