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
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Inmates cannot receive calls. You will have to be on the receiving end of the call. There are several ways that this will work. Collect calls - are about $15 each and the most expensive way to talk. Inmate calling cards - inmates buy them from the commissary and then may dial you direct - the cost of the call is debited off the balance on the card. Pre-paid Account - you will need to set up an account with...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
YES WE CAN. If you would like to get an honest assessment, let us know the name of the facility and your telephone number before you sign up.
InmateAid is NOT a replacement for the phone service at the prison or jail, we make their service cheaper with local phone numbers. Sometimes our service can save you as much as $12.00 per phone call, other times it will not save anything.
Here is how the industry works: The phone service at...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Send us your telephone number and the facility where he is incarcerated - we will give you an honest estimate before you sign-up
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Yes in most cases cell phones are okay, provided there is money on the pre-paid account of the phone service provider chosen by the institution. In cases where you find that they do not allow calls to cell phones, you can [come to InmateAid and we will provide you with an acceptable number](https://www.inmateaid.com/shop/calls) for your inmate to use. We will find the best price for each call, too. When your inmate dials this number, it will forward to your cell...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
It depends on where the call is coming from and what service provider the institution is contracted with. Send us your telephone number and the facility name - we will give you an honest estimate before you sign-up.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
The fastest way is if you are able to convince an employee at the facility to pass your message to your inmate.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
You would login to your My Account area. Click on **Discount Telephone**, then click on **Add Local line**. Then include the State, the Facility, Your Telephone Number and then select the plan either Monthly or Quarterly. The next screen you will see is the breakdown of what you are paying for. Then click to the next screen which is a checkout page where you enter your credit/debit card information. After your payment goes through it will immediately email your receipt...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
InmateAid is NOT a replacement for the phone service at the prison or jail, we make their service cheaper with local phone numbers (or in the case of Securus, NCIC or City TeleCoin we get out of state numbers to save you money). Sometimes our service can save you as much as $12.00 per phone call, other times it will not save anything. If you would like to get an honest assessment, let us know the name of the facility...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
We would be happy to give you a coupon code to send the new telephone number to your inmate. The code will allow you to [write your inmate](https://www.inmateaid.com/letters), send them a photo and relay the new phone number for them to use. Most inmates already know how to [get calls cheaper](https://www.inmateaid.com/shop/calls) and might be telling you to get a new line that will reduce the cost of the calls. InmateAid can help with that, too - if you are interested,...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Collect calls at the least favorable way to receive an inmate call. They are $14.99 per 15-minute call. If you send us the name of the prison and your telephone number, we will give you an honest estimate of whether our [Discount Telephone Service](https://www.inmateaid.com/shop/calls) would be right for you.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
No. Telmate is a prison telephone service provider whose contracts are won via government bidding process. Once they have a contract, they are the only provider for that facility. We would all love to have a business where people HAD to use it, but there was no competition for the service. Therefore, Telmate can pretty much set the prices wherever they want.
InmateAid offers a service that is NOT a replacement for Telmate (and the other providers), but a solution for...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
You will have to get the number to your inmate. Most corrections staff members will not pass along messages to the inmates. You can ask us for a coupon code to send your inmate this information and we will be happy to pay for this service for you.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Elmore County Jail in Idaho uses Telemate, their website is gettingout.com. Whomever is the contract provider has a monopoly on the prices. You have to use them to receive inmate calls. If you are long distance from the jail, we can make the calls cheaper by getting you a local number. Your inmate would dial locally but the calls forward to whatever type of phone you have - Telmate charges the lower rate for all the calls.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
You provide your inmate's location and the phone number you want the calls forwarded to - we will get you a number that will save you money, within an hour. You receive that new number via email and it is ready to go when you get it.
Send us your telephone number and the facility name - we will give you an honest estimate before you sign-up
Subject: Inmate phone calls
It would go to the company that has the monopoly contract at the location where the inmate is incarcerated. It could be one of thirty different companies. Send us your telephone number and the facility name - we will give you an honest estimate before you sign-up.
