At Spartanburg County Jail, all inmate phone calls go through a contracted provider, which is GTL. That means you have to use their system to receive calls, there is no way around it.
Here is how to get set up so he can call you and the kids:
Step 1: Set up a GTL account
You will need to create an account with the phone provider and add funds. This allows you to receive calls and pay for them. You may need to:
- Register your phone number
- Add money to your account
- Make sure your number is approved to receive inmate calls
Step 2: Make sure he has your number
Your inmate has to add your phone number to his approved call list. Without that, he cannot call you.
Step 3: Understand how charges work
Calls are charged through the GTL system, and long distance calls can be expensive.
How to lower the cost:
If you want to save money, you can use a service like InmateAid. They provide a local Spartanburg number that your inmate dials instead of your actual number. That turns the call into a local call, which is much cheaper.
- He dials the local number
- The call forwards to your phone
- You still receive it like a normal call
With this setup, calls that might cost several dollars can drop to a much lower flat rate.
Important notes:
- You still need the GTL account either way
- The service reduces the cost but does not eliminate it
- If he uses a prepaid calling card from commissary, he may be able to dial directly
Once everything is set up, he will be able to call regularly as long as he has funds and access to the phone.