So, your friend or family member has ended up in jail and needs someone to post bail. You, naturally, pull out your checkbook or wallet. If you don’t have the needed funds on hand, you head for the nearest Pennsylvania bail bonds office or bank, intent on obtaining and forking over whatever is needed to free the person (temporarily at least). However, as you do so, a niggling sense of worry prickles the back of your mind. A question forms as you stand before the building: What will this do to your credit score? Will it permanently hurt it? Will it obliterate all of your good reputation among lenders? The short answer to this question is, in general, no. The longer answer is, it will not do so directly.
Posting Bail Doesn’t Directly Affect Your Credit Score
Paying to bail out another individual generally does absolutely nothing to your credit score in and of itself. You are simply handing over the money to have said person released before trial. Even if you have to take out a loan, go to a bail bonds service or use your credit card, none of these actions by themselves will result in an automatic hit to your score, given you pay back any money owed. That last part is the caveat.
Posting Bail May Indirectly Affect Your Credit Score
If you fail to make your payments, you may suffer indirect repercussions, namely harm to your credit score. There may also be consequences if you put up personal collateral like a house, and the person you are posting bail for violates the bond agreement by not showing up for the scheduled court date or fleeing. This last one may lead to the loss of your property and other financial problems.
Posting bail does not mean your credit score will drop. However, doing so through means where you incur debt and then not renumerating it may result in harm to your score.
