Your bail bond money is refunded if you show up in court for your hearing. Depending on the state, the court may deduct a small fee of up to 3% of your return. You do not receive a refund of the 10% service fee that the bail bonds firm charged you if you paid for a bail bonds service.

A service charge is paid to the bail bonds company in exchange for covering the total bail amount on your behalf. Therefore, if you have a $20,000 bail bond, you will pay the bondsman $2,000 before he posts the entire $20,000 as collateral with the court. The bondsman is taking a big chance because they won’t receive their $20,000 back if you don’t show up for court. They will then come looking for you to collect the money, and if you have a co-signer or signed on a bail bond for a friend or family member, they will also come for you.

Bounty hunters are employed by bail bondsmen and are exempt from following standard police protocol when it comes to finding and re-arresting suspects who have skipped court and have a warrant out for their arrest.