How inmates know you added phone service

With discount phone services like InmateAid, your inmate will not automatically be notified when you set up or fund the service. That is because the system works by giving you a new local phone number, not by directly adding money to his existing account.

Here is how it works:

• You are assigned a new local number that is tied to your account
• You must send that number to your inmate so he knows what to dial
• He will call that number instead of your regular number to get the lower rate

That is why it did not ask for his name during signup. The service is built around the number you receive, not his inmate profile.

About the “pending” status:
This usually means your number is still being set up. It can take a few hours for the system to assign and activate your new local number. Once it is ready, you will receive instructions.

Important to know:

• You still need to fund his phone account through the facility’s provider
• Phone companies do not transfer existing numbers to the new system
• The savings come from him dialing a local number instead of long distance

As soon as you receive your new number, send it to him right away through a letter or next call so he can start using it.