Need help from someone who is familiar with bondsman?

Question

Please no negative answers. I need help to help a friend. If you are negative and joking I will report you. I have a friend who spent a little over a month in jail on felony drug charges. He was not able to get his bond money together right away and that is why he sat in there. He found a bondsman who would work with him. He had to pay the bondsman 2800. The bondsman took half (1400) up front and gave him two weeks to pay the rest. Today he demanded (after one week) the rest of it. He did not have it an they put him back in jail. The bondsman is giving him one week to get the money. They did a credit check and everything. He told my friend if he does not get the other half of the money by next Friday he will stay in jail and the bondsman will keep the original 1400 that was given to him. Can he do this? Can try and find another bondsman and get the 1400 back from the original one? We are in Georgia. Thank you so much!

Answer 1

The bondsman can generally revoke a bond (and thus, terminate bail) if the defendant does not pay.

So, yes, it is valid for the bondsman to revoke the bond and send your friend back to jail (pending trial) if your friend does not pay the full bond amount.

As far as the 1400 initial payment, that depends on what your friend agreed to when he signed the bond contract (assuming it was a written contract). If the contract stated that the bondsman could keep any initial partial deposit, then your friend is in for another long legal battle.

If there was no contract, or no forfeiture clause, then the bondsman has no legal right to keep the initial down payment if he did not provide the bond. But trying to get the money back would involve taking the bondsman to small claims court, which is difficult if your friend is in jail pending trial.

Answer 2

unfortunatly your friend is doing business with a bondsman who doesn't care about him.. I think in most states the bonding companies are protected by the law and have the right to go off a bond if they think it is necessary.. even if your friend handed the bondsman the entire amount.. the bondsman can at any time go off the bond and your friend will be jailed again.. is it right.. no.. but the law does not require that the bondsman be a nice person.. just a legal bondsman.. I believe that if you were to go to the district attorney and explain what the bondsman is doing he or she can point you in the right direction.. the law does require that the bondsman operate within a set of guidelines.. there is someone who can help.. I just don't know who.. call the district attorneys office and see if they will tell you who to see.. they do care..good luck

Answer 3

Sorry, bondsmen have few rules & even fewer laws that control them. Did your friend get in writing the agreement? Maybe a receipt that says 1/2 paid & 1/2 due on date 2 weeks later. I have 2 friends that own bonding company (hey, they say it is good money) & thy tell me some of the other companies are really shady acting & the Judges will not stop them at all. Make sure he asks for money but the bondsmen knows - who are they going to believe?

Answer 4

Most bondsmen will not let you out untill you pay the full amount, If they have all of this in writing, then they can hold the bondmens to the contract.

If not they can do about anything they want.

Best bet find the money for this bondsmen

Answer 5

yes he can,, for he play your friend, as it stand, your friend gave the bond man 1400,,,, an he knew your friend could not come up with the rest,,,,, you friend may need to wait till it go to court, an then show the judge, his recite,an let the hudge take action,,,, what i seeing ing , the bond man could loose his lic, to be a bondman,,,sorry he got took,