Comments on: Using Credit Cards to Post Bail http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/ personal finance tips, tricks, and commentary Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:22:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ned Mills http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-142821 Ned Mills Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:00:24 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-142821 Suppose you're arrested for credit card fraud? LOL! That almost as hilarious as paying cash for your bail after being arrested for counterfeiting! Suppose you’re arrested for credit card fraud? LOL!
That almost as hilarious as paying cash for your bail after being arrested for counterfeiting!

]]> By: kitty http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114081 kitty Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:47:48 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114081 "This is actually quite brilliant! Credit card receipts will make it so much easier for the skip tracer or bounty hunter to find you once you jump bail LOL" Yes, right... As if everyone who jumps bail after paying by a credit card is going to continue using the same card. It seems that unless you change your identity and get credit cards under a completely new name/SSN, it's rather stupid to use anything but cash when you are on the run. No personal experience, mind you, just based on detective novels... “This is actually quite brilliant! Credit card receipts will make it so much easier for the skip tracer or bounty hunter to find you once you jump bail LOL”
Yes, right… As if everyone who jumps bail after paying by a credit card is going to continue using the same card. It seems that unless you change your identity and get credit cards under a completely new name/SSN, it’s rather stupid to use anything but cash when you are on the run. No personal experience, mind you, just based on detective novels…

]]> By: MoneyNing http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114068 MoneyNing Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:19:33 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114068 Haha :) Haha :)

]]> By: Dan Ray http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114064 Dan Ray Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:45:29 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114064 Hi, I'm the editor in chief of CreditCards.com, which is the source of the "jail and bail" article cited in Bottom Line Personal (they do no original reporting, but publish, with permission, condensed reprints). To see the original, go to www.creditcards.com/jail-bail-credit-card.php As you might expect, we got an earful from bail bond firms, who don't like the idea one bit. Hi, I’m the editor in chief of CreditCards.com, which is the source of the “jail and bail” article cited in Bottom Line Personal (they do no original reporting, but publish, with permission, condensed reprints).
To see the original, go to http://www.creditcards.com/jai.....t-card.php

As you might expect, we got an earful from bail bond firms, who don’t like the idea one bit.

]]> By: Early Retirement Extreme http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114042 Early Retirement Extreme Sat, 29 Dec 2007 22:48:37 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114042 Oh wow, that's classy! The next obvious thing would be to offer a prison credit card with 5% discount on time served for good customers :-) Oh wow, that’s classy! The next obvious thing would be to offer a prison credit card with 5% discount on time served for good customers :-)

]]> By: Debt Free Revolution http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114041 Debt Free Revolution Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:03:10 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114041 This is actually quite brilliant! Credit card receipts will make it so much easier for the skip tracer or bounty hunter to find you once you jump bail LOL This is actually quite brilliant! Credit card receipts will make it so much easier for the skip tracer or bounty hunter to find you once you jump bail LOL

]]> By: Matt http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114037 Matt Fri, 28 Dec 2007 23:16:34 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114037 I wish they had this when I had to post bail. I as arrested(long story) very early in the morning and I couldn't get a hold of anyone to post bail for me. I had enough for the original amount ($500) but not on me. So they dropped it to $20, but I only had $7 on me. Of course they won't take you to the ATM to get money. I finally got a hold of someone after a few hours but if they had accepted credit cards my arrest would have been much more pleasurable. The charges ended up getting dropped, which is another long story, I really didn't do anything. I wish they had this when I had to post bail. I as arrested(long story) very early in the morning and I couldn’t get a hold of anyone to post bail for me. I had enough for the original amount ($500) but not on me. So they dropped it to $20, but I only had $7 on me. Of course they won’t take you to the ATM to get money.

I finally got a hold of someone after a few hours but if they had accepted credit cards my arrest would have been much more pleasurable. The charges ended up getting dropped, which is another long story, I really didn’t do anything.

]]> By: Prince of Thrift http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114031 Prince of Thrift Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:21:52 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114031 LOL, to funny. When I read your post I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of someone paying bail with a credit card. LOL, to funny. When I read your post I couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of someone paying bail with a credit card.

]]> By: dePriest http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114027 dePriest Fri, 28 Dec 2007 04:35:02 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114027 I did it, darn it, and used the wrong card! I did it, darn it, and used the wrong card!

]]> By: Albert Clarke http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114023 Albert Clarke Thu, 27 Dec 2007 22:15:17 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114023 There are companies that offer payment bycredit card for cash bail to government agencies. These companies charge a fee for the service so the agency has no merchant fees they owe. This is a great idea because it allows people to be released (likely low $$ bond amounts, after all who could pay $10 K or $20 K on a credit card) while creating space for the folks we all want to see remain locked up (pedophiles, rapists, murderers, etc.). I know in Cook County cash bail can be paid with a credit card. Never used it and hope I never need to, but it is something to keep in mind. There are companies that offer payment bycredit card for cash bail to government agencies. These companies charge a fee for the service so the agency has no merchant fees they owe. This is a great idea because it allows people to be released (likely low $$ bond amounts, after all who could pay $10 K or $20 K on a credit card) while creating space for the folks we all want to see remain locked up (pedophiles, rapists, murderers, etc.). I know in Cook County cash bail can be paid with a credit card. Never used it and hope I never need to, but it is something to keep in mind.

]]> By: Mrs. Micah http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114018 Mrs. Micah Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:52:25 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114018 So I suppose the incentive to pay by credit card is that you get it all back, vs. paying much much less and getting nothing back. As an amusing note, I once carried a bail bond amount with me when I went to a protest. Sewed it into my underwear so that nobody could get at it. Didn't need it, but I did it just in case (I wasn't planning to do anything stupid, but I could see accidentally getting caught up in the middle of something). So I suppose the incentive to pay by credit card is that you get it all back, vs. paying much much less and getting nothing back.

As an amusing note, I once carried a bail bond amount with me when I went to a protest. Sewed it into my underwear so that nobody could get at it. Didn’t need it, but I did it just in case (I wasn’t planning to do anything stupid, but I could see accidentally getting caught up in the middle of something).

]]> By: her every cent counts http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114011 her every cent counts Thu, 27 Dec 2007 12:15:56 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114011 haha, that's hilarious. I can picture it now: pay bail on your credit card, get airline miles for the bail, travel out of the country... and so on. haha, that’s hilarious. I can picture it now: pay bail on your credit card, get airline miles for the bail, travel out of the country… and so on.

]]> By: Foobarista http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114010 Foobarista Thu, 27 Dec 2007 10:14:06 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114010 I suspect it's because running a jail costs money, and the more convenient it is to let people post bond, the cheaper it is to run the jail. The merchant fee is nothing compared with the several hundred bux/day to keep someone in a lockup. I suspect it’s because running a jail costs money, and the more convenient it is to let people post bond, the cheaper it is to run the jail. The merchant fee is nothing compared with the several hundred bux/day to keep someone in a lockup.

]]> By: nickel http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114007 nickel Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:28:55 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114007 Mrs. Micah: Yes, if you show up in court you're supposed to get your money back, which is why it works. Imagine if you just paid a fee to get out -- there wouldn't be a compelling reason to go back and show up in court. With bail, you have a substantial chunk of money on the line. When it comes to bonds, it's a different story. In that case, you pay a bail bondsman 10% (usually) of the bail amount and they guarantee that you'll show up for your court date or they'll be on the hook for the bail. If you don't show up, then someone like Dog the Bounty Hunter will come looking for you (otherwise they'll be out the bail money). In this case, the bond amount isn't refundable. Mrs. Micah: Yes, if you show up in court you’re supposed to get your money back, which is why it works. Imagine if you just paid a fee to get out — there wouldn’t be a compelling reason to go back and show up in court. With bail, you have a substantial chunk of money on the line.

When it comes to bonds, it’s a different story. In that case, you pay a bail bondsman 10% (usually) of the bail amount and they guarantee that you’ll show up for your court date or they’ll be on the hook for the bail. If you don’t show up, then someone like Dog the Bounty Hunter will come looking for you (otherwise they’ll be out the bail money). In this case, the bond amount isn’t refundable.

]]> By: Mrs. Micah http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114006 Mrs. Micah Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:18:34 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114006 Good question, MW. Maybe the jail just loses $30 on the deal. The only reason I can come up with is perhaps they expect that people would be more likely to post bail if CCs are allowed. Thus more money for them overall. But....it's confusing. What if they have to refund? Do they still lose the $30? Do you get a cash refund that you have to apply to the CC? Does it just cancel the transaction? Good question, MW. Maybe the jail just loses $30 on the deal.

The only reason I can come up with is perhaps they expect that people would be more likely to post bail if CCs are allowed. Thus more money for them overall. But….it’s confusing. What if they have to refund? Do they still lose the $30? Do you get a cash refund that you have to apply to the CC? Does it just cancel the transaction?

]]> By: Minimum Wage http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114005 Minimum Wage Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:42:21 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114005 My first thought was actually, do you get points? But I'm a little confused. Let's say your bail is $1,000 and you pay it with your credit card. The jail would pay a merchant fee of, say, 3% or $30. So does this mean you'd have to pay more than $1,000 to post $1,000 bail? My first thought was actually, do you get points?

But I’m a little confused.

Let’s say your bail is $1,000 and you pay it with your credit card. The jail would pay a merchant fee of, say, 3% or $30.

So does this mean you’d have to pay more than $1,000 to post $1,000 bail?

]]> By: kitty http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114004 kitty Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:16:40 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114004 I assume if you don't run away they post credit. But if you do run away before paying you CC bill, credit card looses money. But this will never happen because either everyone who posts their bail with CC is innocent or criminals can always be counted upon to pay their debts. Brilliant. So here is a scam. Rob a bank, stash the money to some Swiss bank account. If you get caught, pay the bail with a credit card and off you go to a nice tropical country without extradition treaty. I wonder which official came up with this brilliant idea. I assume if you don’t run away they post credit. But if you do run away before paying you CC bill, credit card looses money. But this will never happen because either everyone who posts their bail with CC is innocent or criminals can always be counted upon to pay their debts. Brilliant.

So here is a scam. Rob a bank, stash the money to some Swiss bank account. If you get caught, pay the bail with a credit card and off you go to a nice tropical country without extradition treaty.

I wonder which official came up with this brilliant idea.

]]> By: That One Caveman http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114002 That One Caveman Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:31:08 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114002 And what happens when you don't pay the bill? Do they repossess <i>you</i>? And what happens when you don’t pay the bill? Do they repossess you?

]]> By: Amanda http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-114001 Amanda Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:25:47 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-114001 I have actually tried to post bail with a credit card (long story) but they only accepted cash. I have actually tried to post bail with a credit card (long story) but they only accepted cash.

]]> By: Mrs. Micah http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/comment-page-1/#comment-113999 Mrs. Micah Wed, 26 Dec 2007 16:58:58 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/26/using-credit-cards-to-post-bail/#comment-113999 Oh. If you don't run away, do you get your bail back? If so, I'm going to get arrested and make me some money.... Oh.

If you don’t run away, do you get your bail back? If so, I’m going to get arrested and make me some money….

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