Inmate Phone Calls — Ask the Inmate
Prison phone calls are one of the most important lifelines between an incarcerated person and their family, and one of the most expensive. The prison phone industry has historically operated as a near-monopoly charging rates that few other consumer services would get away with. This section covers how the prison phone system works, why rates are so high and what has changed in recent years, how debit calling accounts function, how to get a number approved on an inmate's call list, how InmateAid's local number service reduces call costs by up to 70 percent, and what international callers need to know about reaching a US facility from another country. The questions answered here come from families who are paying too much for calls and from inmates trying to navigate phone access from inside. Understanding how the system works is the first step toward getting the most contact for the least cost. See also our sections on Money Transfer and Commissary.
Related InmateAid Services
You can notify them via mail or visitation. Sometimes a staff member will relay the message but they are not supposed to
Read moreYou will have to let them know either by mail, by visiting or by speaking to a staff member and politely ask if they will relay the new number to your inmate (this is only 50% effective as they usually decline)
Read moreIt depends on the facility's phone carrier, their tariffs and what your phone number is. If you email us that information, we will give you an exact price for both numbers.
Read moreNo, the service is not a replacement for the phone service carrier at the jail. The InmateAid service uses software to select the best number to get the lowest price per minute. Use our number with the jail's service and the calls are going to be significantly less, meaning your $20 spent here will be made up in the savings within 2-5 calls. If you are talking every day, twice a day or more, this Service is going to save
Read moreIf your inmate gets moved, has their number blocked or for ANY reason needs a new number, InmateAid replaces them at NO charge. There doesn't need to be a reason, just wanting to change the number is okay with us.
Read more9:30 pm
Read moreThe service is NCIC, however, the InmateAid Service will cut the NCIC call price in half. If you would like to get an honest estimate, email us your telephone number and we'll let you know if this discount could be applied to your account
Read moreThis depends on your phone number. If you would like an honest estimate, email us (aid@inmateaid.com) the name of the facility with your phone number and we will let you know the pricing options
Read moreInmateAid numbers are selected by software matching the rate calculator prices for all numbers as they relate to the prison pricing and then delivering them to you via email and text
Read moreThe Service is normally a month to month non-refundable service where the minutes do not carry over to the next month. If you have a compelling reason for the non-use, we have given free months in the past, if you ask nicely :)
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