What Happens If You Don’t Pay Bail Bonds in California?
Getting out on bail can feel like a huge relief, whether it’s you or someone you care about. But after everything settles down, those bail bond payments can feel like a burden. If you’re thinking of skipping those payments, think again!
In California, missing those payments can cause you more trouble than you could imagine! You might have to deal with lawsuits, revoked bail, or a trip back to jail. We know that it’s not something you want to face.
If you know your risks ahead of time, it can save you bigger problems down the line. So, if you’ve been wondering, “What happens if you don’t pay bail bonds in California?” we’re here to answer your question in detail!
What Bail Bonds Actually Are?
If you or someone you know is arrested in California, they have the option to post bail to get out of jail and wait for the trial. You can think of bail as a form of guarantee that you’ll not go off the radar after being released from jail and appear in court during the trial. If you show up to the court trial, you’ll get your bail amount refunded within 2-3 months.
But the total bail amount can be pretty high (between $10,000 and $100,000), and not everyone has thousands of dollars ready to pay full bail. That’s where a bail bondsman can step in and save you. They take a non-refundable fee (which is usually 10% of the total bail amount) and post bail on your behalf. So, you’ll be released right away and will have to turn up in court later for the trial.
Your bail bondsman can sometimes ask you to use a form of collateral to secure the bond. This can be a piece of your jewelry, a car, a watch, or any other valuable item that can be used to pay the full bail amount in case you don’t show up in court for the trial.
This is all backed by legal contracts as per California bail bond laws. So, if you break the agreement by skipping the payment to your bail bondsman, things won’t be very favorable for you!
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Consequences of Not Paying Bail Bonds
If the bondsman posts your bail and you don’t pay their fees (10% of the bail amount) and you also fail to provide or withhold the collateral required to secure the bond, you can land yourself in legal and financial trouble. This is what can happen:
Your Bail Bond Company Can Sue You!
Your bail bond company won’t just forget about missed payments. If you did not pay them, they’ll contact you first to remind you. But if you keep ignoring them, they can take legal action against you for breaking the contract terms.
They can even take you to a civil court to recover the amount you owe them! For you, this means more legal hassles and extra costs that can ruin your peace of mind!
Your Bail Bondsman Can Revoke The Bond
This is as bad as it sounds! If you miss payments and don’t respond to your bail bondsman, they can revoke your bail by telling the court that you’ve violated the agreement. So, an arrest warrant will be issued for you, and you will be sent back to jail!
Collateral May Be Seized
If you’ve used collateral to secure your bond, then failing to pay the bond amount can mean that the collateral is now at serious risk. Your bail bondsman will use that collateral to recover the unpaid balance. This can be anything: your car, house, or any other valuable items that you used to secure the bond.
Damaged Credit
While the bail bond won’t appear on your credit report, missed payments or collection actions taken by the bond company absolutely can! This can affect your credit score just like an unpaid loan would affect your score. This often means it might be difficult for you to get approvals for loans, credit cards, or even rental agreements.
So, the main point is that it’s absolutely necessary to pay your bail bondsman the amount you owe them. If you don’t, things can go south pretty quickly.
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What If The Defendant Skips the Court Trial?
This is a whole different level of trouble for you! If you fail to show up in court for the trial, you’ll be responsible for paying the entire bail amount, not just the 10% you originally paid. That’s an extra burden you might not want to take.
If you fail to pay these amounts, your collateral will be seized. Plus, the bail bond company might have to track you down to get the money that you owe to the bail bondsman. But not all is bad!
If you’re genuinely struggling to arrange the money you owe to your bail bondsman, you can communicate this with them. They might offer you flexible payment plans and work with you on an arrangement that’s suitable for you and the bail bond company. But if you skip court dates, ghost them, and don’t pay the money you owe to the bail bondsman, you can face unwanted legal troubles!
Takeaway
It’s natural to wonder, “How bad can the consequences of not paying bail bonds be?” But the truth is – it’s pretty bad! From facing legal lawsuits and serving jail time to your collateral being seized, you might have to face serious problems if you don’t pay the bond amount to your bail bondsman.
This can ruin your peace of mind, and you might have to deal with some extra financial burden. So, why take such risks in the first place? Also, you can always reach out to your bail bondsman and explain your financial situation to work on a better payment plan that works for you and them.
Compassionate Bail Solutions, Anytime, Anywhere – With Holly Bail Bonds!
At Holly Bail Bonds, we are your trusted bail bonds partner who can get you out of jail quickly and with minimal hassle. You can contact us anytime, as we’re open for you 24/7. Our licensed bond agents know the California bail bond laws inside and out, so we’ll help you through the entire process with clarity and compassion.
We also offer you an affordable payment plan so that you don’t have to stress over your finances at all. We promise to support you when you need us the most!
We have bail offices located in Redding and San Francisco. We can write bail in Redding, Red Bluff, Weaverville, Chico, Yreka, throughout California, and nationwide. Call us now at 530-241-1516!