When someone is released from jail on bail, there’s one major rule they absolutely must follow: go to court. It’s not a suggestion. It’s not flexible. It’s a requirement tied to your freedom.

But you wouldn’t believe the kinds of excuses we’ve heard from people who missed their court date after being bailed out. Some are outrageous, some are hilarious, and others… well, they leave us speechless.

Here at eBail, we’ve been in the bail bond business long enough to hear it all. So we thought we’d share some of the wildest, most unbelievable excuses we’ve supposedly heard when someone failed to show up to court.

“My Baby Mama Slashed My Tires”

We heard this one at 7:45 a.m. on the morning of court. And hey, maybe it’s true—but when it happens every time court rolls around, we start to think the tires aren’t the only thing getting played. If your ride keeps mysteriously breaking down only on court days, the judge isn’t going to sympathize.

“I Thought Bail Meant I Was Free”

This one’s more common than you’d think. Some people think posting bail is the same as beating the case. Spoiler alert: bail is temporary freedom—not a “get out of court free” card. If you’re out on bond, you still have to show up to every single court appearance.

“I Got Picked Up in Another County”

This one does happen. But the way we usually hear it is more like, “I got picked up for something dumb.” If you’re out on bail and get arrested somewhere else, your original bond is likely to be revoked, and now you’re dealing with two courts, two jails, and no more chances.

“My Ex Deleted it From My Calendar”

Apparently, this person’s ex deleted the calendar event from their phone after a fight. While we understand that breakups are rough, you can’t delete your court date just because someone else deleted your app. If you’re out on bond, it’s your job to keep track of your court schedule.

“I Thought You Were Gonna Remind Me”

We’ve had clients blame us, saying we should’ve reminded them of their court date like we’re some kind of alarm clock. While we do help people stay on track, at the end of the day, your freedom is your responsibility. Don’t miss court expecting us—or anyone else—to save you from the consequences.

“I Was Manifesting a Better Outcome”

We wish this one was made up. The defendant said they skipped court because they were “visualizing a not guilty verdict” and didn’t want to interrupt the process. Listen—we’re all for positive thinking, but manifestation doesn’t replace showing up to court. If anything, it manifests a bench warrant.

What Happens When You Miss Court on Bond?

When you miss court after being bailed out:

A bench warrant is issued for your arrest
The court may forfeit your bond
Your cosigner could be on the hook for the full bail amount
You’ll likely have a harder time getting bail in the future
You could be charged with Failure to Appear, adding another charge to your case

And if we’re your bail bond company? We now have to start tracking you down—or we lose money. Nobody wins in this scenario.

Moral of the Story?

If you’re out on bail, go to court. Every time. No excuses. If something genuinely comes up—like a medical emergency or unavoidable conflict—call us immediately. The sooner we know, the more we can help. But if you no-show and then tell us your grandma’s cat had a spiritual crisis, we’re not going to be able to do much for you.

Need help navigating court dates or worried about missing one? Give us a call at eBail. We’re open 24/7, and our job is to help you succeed—not to chase you down with a warrant.

But please—no more tire-slashing baby mama stories. We’ve heard that one already.