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.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Collect calls from jail rarely work on cell phones, and most carriers have moved away from supporting them entirely. The fix is straightforward: set up a prepaid account with whatever phone carrier the jail uses.
Every county jail contracts with a phone service provider, typically a company like Securus, GTL, ICSolutions, or Telmate. That carrier manages all calls made from the facility. To receive calls without the collect call barrier, you need to create an account directly with that carrier and...
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it depends on the location and phone carrier at the prison/jail. if you sign up with inmateAID, we will only issue a line if it can save you money. if not, it is promptly refunded. there is no risk trying it out.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Reception Diagnostic Center (RDC) is a temporary maximum-security prison due to the wide range of custody and security levels of the inmates who go through this facility for classification. The RDC is usually the first stop for inmates where they will be evaluated, given a physical and psychological exam. Because it is a temporary facility inmates' programs are limited, so are the perks like visits and phone calls. Therefore your inmate might not get phone privileges until they are designated to a more permanent...
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Your account is not disabled, only the telephone service transaction is canceled. If we cannot save you money from your current situation then we automatically refund the transaction fee. You can still use our greeting card, postcard, photo and magazine Services. But for the phone calls, your current number is the best option.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Our Phone Service uses an algorithm to determine the best rate for you based on your location, the inmate's location and the carrier the facility uses. If we can't save you money, we do not issue a line. If we issue a line and the calls are not cheaper, we offer you a refund. It works perfectly in about 70% of the cases
Subject: Inmate phone calls
In all situations, the inmate must initiate the call. The cost to the inmate to make an international call is pricey. You can reduce the cost by acquiring a US number and relaying it to your international one. InmateAid does part of that solution by getting a US number.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Yes, InmateAid's phone service works for inmates at North Platte Regional Correctional Center in Nebraska. If you are talking regularly with someone there, it is worth setting up because the savings add up quickly. The per-call rates at county facilities can be steep, and InmateAid's number brings that cost down to a more reasonable level.
On video calls, that is not part of the service at this time. InmateAid's phone line is voice only. Video visitation at county jails is typically...
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It depends on the facility and the carrier at that facility - in some cases, there are savings of over 50%. If you are going to talk a lot, it might be worth looking into. In federal it's a central system that is beneficial if you have a local number. InmateAid gets them for only $5 per month - user/inmate save $45. Check it out by going to Discount Phone Lines to see if you can save too.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
A 214 number is a Dallas area code, and Wilmer sits just south of Dallas in Dallas County, so it feels like the logical choice. Local should mean cheaper. In the prison phone world, that assumption will cost you money.
With Securus, which holds contracts across Texas facilities, including Dallas County, all in-state numbers are actually more expensive than out-of-state numbers. That is not a typo. It runs counter to everything you would expect, but it is how Securus structures its...
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