:angry: You guys do realize they scr3wed us over with all the hoopla about GTL lowering the price of calls and giving the inmates families a "break". I don't feel like they gave us anything. So the cost is less for a 15 minute call. Who cares when they charge 10 dollars for you to put 50 dollars on your advance prepay account using an electronic check or credit card. I though I had really done something when I started using Western Union to put the money on my account and they only charged a little over 4 dollars to do this. Now suddenly Western Union is charging over 9 dollars themselves. Is there anyway around this chit? I am so fed up with the monopolies these phone companies have over the prison system.

Hey UB1 -- Have you seen the latest? You will soon not even be 'ALLOWED' to pay $9.00 or $9.50 because they are going to ELIMINATE the transaction fee by ELIMINATING the convenience of paying by credit/debit card. Check out the article in the News forum here.

--cessna

OK, I hate to be obtuse but I thought that collect calls were the only :) way they could call out and the limit was 15 minutes. I just found out today that my phone number has been approved. Do I need to go somewhere and put money on a phone account or phone card and if so, how do I identify my wife so that she can use it.

Again, sorry to be dense but this is all very new to me. I promise to catch on quickly though.

Hello Bat -- The answer to your question is YES and NO! ;-)

But seriously, collect calls are fine. But you will be limited to $100 per 'rolling 30 day period' that can be billed to your current phone service phone bill. Once you go over the $100 limit a block will be put on your phone and she will not be able to call until the 'rolling 30 day period' rolls off some of the calls.

Some people (me included) have found that the $100 limit is limiting, indeed. In order to receive calls after reaching the $100 then a 'prepaid' account with GTL will need to be set up.

Oh, and the calls are $4.80 each in-state.

So...bottom line...when your wife is ready to call you, she CAN...until you rack up $100 in calls. So maybe she will call VERY soon.

--cessna

Do not feel you need to appologize to us,we all were brand new to all this once and even us that are a little seasoned still have many,many questions.
We are a little family here and families are supposed to support each other,any question you have.... never feel it is not important because it is.Hang in there Bat !!!!

Thanks so much. Where do I go to establish a prepaid account with GTL? Is it something I can do online or is there a phone number I call and give my wife's ADC number to?

Thanks for your help!!!!

Hello again Bat --

The number for Global Tel Link is 877-650-4249. You really don't have to rush to set up a prepaid account as long as you have a land line phone. The $100 limit is for collect calls that will be billed on your regular phone bill. I mean, you CAN go ahead and set up a prepaid account, but you don't need to right now to get your first phone calls.

You won't need to give your wife's ADC number to GTL, either. Your wife just needs to add your phone number to her approved list (which I think you mentioned has already been done). She should be able to call you as soon as your number is in the system (the prison's system...the approval process).

ONLINE!?!?! No, that would be too much like the RIGHT thing to do! ;-) It has to be handled over the phone or via mail.

Oh, and like Miss Kitty said...no need to apologize...we are all family here.

See ya!
--cessna

Thanks so much. I found out today that I have been approved for a visitation on Saturday. That helps tremendously!

WOOO HOOO!!!!! AWESOME! Enjoy that visit and let us know how it goes.

--cessna

:angry: You guys do realize they scr3wed us over with all the hoopla about GTL lowering the price of calls and giving the inmates families a "break". I don't feel like they gave us anything. So the cost is less for a 15 minute call. Who cares when they charge 10 dollars for you to put 50 dollars on your advance prepay account using an electronic check or credit card. I though I had really done something when I started using Western Union to put the money on my account and they only charged a little over 4 dollars to do this. Now suddenly Western Union is charging over 9 dollars themselves. Is there anyway around this chit? I am so fed up with the monopolies these phone companies have over the prison system.



Yes I totally agree with you:angry: .........I talked to an operator and she told that my 15 minute calls were costing me $13.00 each.:mad: Thats less than 4 calls for over $50.00 dollars:eek: . And I was taken away when the western union fee went up to $9.50. It's crazy........you would think they would make it easier for us to talk to loved ones to keep them stress-free but instead they try and put us into debt when we try and keep our loved ones stress-free by talking to them. :idea: This stuff can get really expensive if you take a look at it. You spend over at least $150.00 a month for phones calls, you send them money to have on their books for personal items, snacks, etc......which can be for me about $80.00- $100.00 a month and then if you live out of state from where your loved one is, it can cost you about over $250.00 to travel for visitation. Thats over $500.00 a month for me. And I'm sure there are alot of people that are spending way more than I am. I don't know about anyone else but this is a sentence for me also. I feel like I'm paying a fine for my fiancee going to jail.:angry:

Bat.....Happy,Happy,Joy,Joy enjoy your visit !!!!!! Kitty

Yes yoyr right DEEDEE, we get punished also. I feel ADC an arkansas governement in general rip off the people of this state. I am a native of here, very disappointed in the laws they get passed, an how the inmates are treated. AN especially this phone system they scam us with. Maybe if we all band together we can get something class action against the state .(lol). Wish i could figure something like that out. Phone system should just be collect, like me an you would do. Or maybe a special rated 800 number. My son is still in. Been lied too from the beginning. Our own lawyer lied, didn't inform us of all this stuff with sentencing. So all be ware. Watch you lawyers.

Yes yoyr right DEEDEE, we get punished also. I feel ADC an arkansas governement in general rip off the people of this state. I am a native of here, very disappointed in the laws they get passed, an how the inmates are treated. AN especially this phone system they scam us with. Maybe if we all band together we can get something class action against the state .(lol). Wish i could figure something like that out. Phone system should just be collect, like me an you would do. Or maybe a special rated 800 number. My son is still in. Been lied too from the beginning. Our own lawyer lied, didn't inform us of all this stuff with sentencing. So all be ware. Watch you lawyers.

I was born and raised in Arkansas and lived in Arkansas until 10 years ago. I moved to Tulsa and realized how backwards things can be in Arkansas. I have since moved back and these little things annoy me! The phone companies in general rip everyone off, even regular people. For example, in Arkansas you can't call very far and you have to dial long distance. In Oklahoma, if you are in Tulsa you can call a city that is well over an hour away and still is only a local call. It's amazing the little things that phone compaines get away with.