Why Is My Discount Phone Number Still Pending?

Processing delays on new discount phone numbers are usually tied to order volume, and holidays are the most common cause. When a holiday falls the day before, overnight and same-day orders back up and take longer to work through than normal. It is not a technical issue with your account, just a queue that is running behind.

If your number is still showing as pending, it is actively being processed. Orders do not get lost in the system, they just take longer to clear during high-volume periods.

A few things to keep in mind while you wait:

If your inmate calls before you have the number ready, let them know it is coming and give them the number as soon as you receive the confirmation email. In the federal system they will need to submit it to their counselor for approval anyway, so a short delay on your end does not necessarily slow down when they can start using it.

Once you have the number, hold onto the confirmation email. Your inmate will need to write it down accurately when submitting it for approval at the facility, and having the email as a reference prevents mistakes.

If the delay runs significantly longer than expected, reach out to InmateAid directly and we will check the status of your order and resolve it. Holiday backlogs clear quickly once processing resumes at full pace.