Is anyone else out there in Canada not receiving calls from US prisons???

This looks like an MCI problem and I have been trying to get to the bottom of it for almost a month now. The last call that I received was August 3rd.

I have talked to Bell Canada and it is not my line.

I have talked to the prison and they claim that they are not aware of any problem, but also said that they did not even think that an inmate could call Canada? (Well I have been receiving weekly calls for a year now - up to August 3rd.)

I have talked to MCI Inmate Services 20 times now and always get a different story. They have told me that no calls are going through to Canada if MCI is the carrier from the US prison??? They tell me that they are working on it and it will be fixed in a day or two? I get this story every time I call and we are approaching a month now.

DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS???

Haven't heard a thing about this, but I have to admit, you're the first Canadian I've known who got prison calls from the U.S.

Is this on your home phone, or a cell phone? I wonder if that makes any difference?

Menolly

Menolly,

This is to my home phone number.

MCI tell me that it is all calls to Canada from US prisons and they know the problem exists and are working on it. I don't know any more than that.

I don't remember who, but there is another Canadian on this site that I believe receives calls from a US prison. I think anyway.

If this is now going to be a long term thing, I don't know how I am going to deal with this. This silence and inability to talk is killing me. I hate waiting for the turnaround time of letters.

I placed a call to one of the MCI supervisors yesterday and left my number and then again today and again left my number. They are not too quick to respond because I am still waiting. Of course with this being a holiday weekend, I am sitting here waiting until at least Tuesday now.

This is frustration beyond belief.

Ken

Ah Sweetie; And a long weekend too!

Maybe you should tell yourself "I'm allowing myself to write him 100 letters this weekend." Then write em all! Throw out the ones that are frustrated and angry, and bombard him with all the others. At least he'll know what you were doing on the long weekend.

Of course, the other option is to meet some crazy woman in Oakville for coffee...

Love,
Menolly

Menolly,

The offer to meet the "crazy woman" in Oakville is mighty tempting!!! LOL Actually, I am serious about that. I am waiting around tomorrow morning to finalize dinner plans with a friend for tomorrow night, but would love to Monday if you are free anytime. My schedule is completely open so you name the time. My boyfriend can't get away this weekend so I am on my own!

Let me know. I think that I have your cell number from a PM - I will look and see. If not I will send you mine and we will go from there!

K

Good luck Ken. By the way, what is the connect and per minute cost for those calls? I'm curious. I'm trying to understand this phone problem issue. :)

Jim

Jim,

In actual fact, I have been very lucky with cost based on what I have seen and heard from others... I pay about 55 cents per minute ONLY! This is in US Dollars. When converted to Canadian dollars it is about 80 cents a minute. I have heard of folks paying $15.00 for a 5 minute call! It is outrageous!

My cost is including any connection fee that is charged as well. My charges come on my local phone company bill and all I see is the total charge so I am not sure what the connect fee is.

The only problem is that for some unknown reason, my friend cannot call through anymore and no one seems to be able to tell me why...

DANG! I had an offer of a date, and I missed it!

Golfangled gefloozzenick!

Next weekend, darling?

Menolly

Sorry this is a delayed response but I was away for the month of September.

Ken, I receive calls from a US prison and I'm having no problems. Have you been able to receive any as yet?

Gilly,

Yes, finally the calls are coming through again! 58 days without and a lot of frustration. If you are interested you can read some of the frustrating story in Institutional Phone Systems - MCI Should Spell Frustration!