1. What is your California bail license number?
Bail agents in California are licensed by the Department of Insurance, and the license number can be verified through the department's license lookup. An agency that will not give you a number, or gives you a number that does not check out, is not an agency you should be wiring money to.
Armstrong's California bail license is #1214401. Look it up before you call us back.
2. What is the total cost, including financing?
- What is the premium on this bail amount?
- What is the down payment, and what are the monthly payments after that?
- Are there fees beyond the premium, and what are they for?
- Is collateral required, and if so, what and when do I get it back?
Get it in writing before you sign. A quoted down payment is not a quoted total, and an agency that blurs the two is telling you something.
3. Who will be handling this, and can I reach them at 3 a.m.?
A large share of "24-hour bail bonds" search results are lead brokers who sell your call to whichever agency buys the zip code. Ask whether you are speaking with the agency that will write the bond, whether they have posted at this specific jail before, and what number reaches a human at three in the morning.