Here in Alabama we have been forced to use TNetix and they are aweful. I have found out this much information They block our phones in three ways.
1. if an inmate makes 25.00 worth of calls in a 24 hour time period- they block it for 24 hours
2. If an inmate makes 50.00 worth of calls in a week- a block is placed until their week frame is up.
3. If an inmate makes 150.00 in a month they block it until their month is up.
I have stayed on the phone placed on hold for up to three hours with only hanging up because no one every answered.
We have been talking for over ten years but when this company took over we are always getting cut off only to have to pay yet another connection fee. Being told by a recording that we have used a custom calling feature. Heck their so advanced features can't tell the difference between talking and a click...really advanced if you ask me. Just this past month there were 43 disconnects under 7 minutes... a cost of 102.00 extra dollars that you can't even talk to anyone about adjusting the bill

vicki

vicki - first of all, welcome to PTO. My husband is in Atmore at JO Davis and the company from his calls was Qwest until it the investigation started a couple of months ago. I know what you mean about the disconnects and the high costs. My last phone bill was almost $400. Sunday when he called it was lightening down there and that caused a "crackle" in the phone and it disconnected. Another connection fee and another almost $6 for the first minute was charged when he called back.

I did not know how and when they blocked calls - thank you for sharing this!

Once again, welcome to PTO and I hope to see you around!

Vicki - Welcome to PTO. We can all understand your frustration about the phone calls. I think we all go through that. When I was able to talk to my husband here in FLA, MCI once blocked my phone for a $63 bill. I had never even been late paying my bill, but they thought it was a "high" bill.

Danielle, your husband is in Atmore, AL??? That's only about 15 minutes from where my husband is in Century, FL.

Tracy

Tracey, Dannielle, Michael is at Holman there in Atmore so he is just across the street from JODavis. We have the same fools running their prisons. And yes I am being nice, believe me. As for traceys husband being at Century I know that place a little, my cousin dated the ass. wardens son a few years back, but it must run in the family, being over powereed and he thought he was gonna get away with slapping her around... yes he is a guard there. Wrong move. We have been writing letters here in Alabama to the attorney Generals office and the public service commission about the phones and I urge each and everyone to do so. We have got to make a change in this new contract, it is aweful. I have been dealing with calls from prisons for over 10 years when we use to get them on our own phone bill before everyone jumped on the band wagon to make money off of us. I have never complained until Tnetix took over, even though the bills were much higher than I was use to paying, when we could talk as long as we wanted to for hours at a time. I am in this for Live without, I am standing by Michael until the end. So you see this is my life.
vicki

Vicki, I go to Century every other week. And when I go to spend both days with the hubby, I usually stay in Atmore. Do you get to visit Michael? I see you are in Theodore, I used to have family there. Would really like to get to know you better, since we are almost neighbors.

Tracy

tracy, the answer to your question is no I don't get to visit Michael, it has been four years since I have seen him. Just another one of their games they play. But that's ok they can take me out of holman but they will never take him out of my heart or my life. So see now you see why my phone calls are so important to us. We are in hopes that he will be transfered soon and then hopefully I will be able to visit again. I have learned over the years that the wardens can say anything and their voices is like God, no proof no nothing.
I am very active in the concerns of inmates here in alabama, and believe me I do voice my opinion not that they take note. :)
vicki

vicki - i would love to hear from you, more in detail, about what is going on in the Alabama DOC and what I can do to help. Let me know who and where you are writing letters to and I'd be happy to put in my 2 cents worth!

Tracy - girl, I didn't know your man was so close to my man. I am going down to see him Sunday - usually go every other weekend, but this is a holiday weekend, so I'm making a special trip. We'll have to hook up one weekend!

Sue Hicks
Alabama Public Service Commission
P.O. Box 304260
Montgomery,al

We have been writting Sue Hicks, with the public Service Commission . Also the Attorney Generals office complaining about T-Netix Commenting FRUAD. Not being able to call and discuss our phone bills, being on hold for hours at a time and also the fact that the phones are being disconnected and their recording stating that we have used a custom calling feature. Also we are BOYCOTTING the phones in the month of OCTOBER. I urge everyone to take part in this, because some of us aren't as lucky as others, this is a life long situation for my family and many others in Alabama, Michael is serving a life without sentence.
vicki

Vicki,
I dont know situation or circumstances surrounding your not being able to see your husband, but would suggest that you contact Senator Hank Sanders. He has a lot of influence with this type situation and was able to get a friend of mine in to see her boyfriend after she had been banned. Good luck. My special person is at Holman also, but he his on DR.