Seating such disparate communities as the affluent neighborhood of Van Ness and the notoriously shady West Side, finding a reliable bail bondsman may prove arduous in Fresno. Bail bonds are usually made available at any downtown area or side street. Before you go to the first one you see and hand in your bond premium and collateral, however, it is best to read up on how this type of surety actually work and how to tell legitimate agents from money scams.

When a person gets arrested, depending on his criminal history and the gravity of his supposed criminal offense, he may be given the option to post bail in exchange for freedom until his first appearance in court. Bail bonds are sureties that are paid for by a licensed third party.

The California Department of Insurance (DOI) provides three kinds of bail licenses: the agents' license, the permitees' license, and the solicitors' license. The bail agents' license can be held to either a competent individual or a corporation. When looking for a bail bondsman, be sure that he has the right license to provide this service.

In every Californian county and city, including Fresno, the bail bonds' premium cost is mandated by law to be just 10 percent of the actual surety amount. You should therefore be wary of agencies that claim to offer "cheap" service rates, five percent or less, for example. These outfits are most likely acting illegally or are only advertising that rate as a down payment only.

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Absolute Bail Bonds offers premier bail bonding services to the residents of Southern California, from glamorized Los Angeles to the urban neighborhoods of Fresno. Bail bonds are provided by a licensed bail bondsman. The firm offers its service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, visit AbsoluteBailBonds.com or call 800-793-2245.