How does a call from the prison show up in caller ID?

CookieBaker · #1 01-09-2013, 05:42 PM

I am terrified of missing a phone call from my husband. Will it show up in my caller ID as the area code/prefix of the prison? Or do prison calls run through a strange network and show up as something completely different? For example when my bank calls to talk to me about our credit card, the call can come from Illinois, Delaware...I don't have a way to identify it as the credit card folks.

Will I be able to know for sure when a call is from the prison?

Jay1 · #2 01-09-2013, 05:47 PM

My man is also in a Federal prison and when he calls all that comes up is "Unknown" and for some reason this comes up sometimes lol "*953" not sure and I saved that as a contact so every time he calls and if that is to show up my caller id will say "My Baby" or unknown

Marci59 · #3 01-09-2013, 06:40 PM

Cookie...sorry, how I refer to you in my mind...I know you are really anxious right now...my brother is in Il..his call orginally came in on an 800 number....once I received his first call and knew it was him I put it in my phone as his contact...believe it or not always comes in same number even though he uses different phones. Remember, it may be a couple of weeks before you hear from him if he is in receiving and reception....go ahead and sign up on vine link..you will know where he is and when he goes to home facility...I am here for ya...we all know the anxiety you are feeling right now...let the questions flow for reassurance...

CookieBaker · #4 01-10-2013, 04:25 AM

Does vinelink track federal prisoners?

Marci59 · #5 01-10-2013, 10:35 AM

I do not know 100%....check their site. I would think they would, if not, I am sure the fed system has something similiar...

LadyBlaise · #6 01-11-2013, 02:55 PM

Vinelink doesn't track feds but you can see where they are on the bop website. Pacer tells you information on the charges.

jlw70fl · #7 01-11-2013, 03:45 PM

Cookie when he gets to his home prison and can make normal calls. They will come through on caller ID and on cell phones as UNKNOWN. They will go through there little speech about this is a free federal call from a Mr. COOKIE press 5 to accept the call 7 to block the call and hang up to decline the call. If he is at the Oklahoma transfer Center I am unsure how that comes through. Remain calm. Remember to breathe. During your calls the this is a call from a federal inmate will repeat it is annoying but you will get used to it. Your man cant hear you when this comes on so pause. You will get a beep when you have 1 min left and then at 30 seconds. I hope that helps you.

MiniMoose · #8 01-11-2013, 03:53 PM

When my LO calls, it also shows up as "Unknown".

Samantha1980 · #9 01-11-2013, 04:00 PM

Shows up as Unknown and now any time I see that word "unknown" whether I'm reading an article or reading a book or whatever, when I see "unknown" my heart flutters a little

MATTSGIRL12 · #10 01-11-2013, 05:07 PM

When my man was in Lewisburg the calls showed up on the caller ID as blocked and I have verizon. He just got moved to Florence on Monday so I have no idea what it will show up now. Hope this helps!!

RGs_love · #11 01-12-2013, 09:58 PM

I get UNKNOWN on my caller ID..my love calls from FCI Terminal Island

HoldinItDown2010 · #12 01-12-2013, 11:26 PM

When I get calls it either says unknown or 000

*God Will Never Leave Me Nor Forsake Me*

mandagrace · #13 02-01-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samantha1980

Shows up as Unknown and now any time I see that word "unknown" whether I'm reading an article or reading a book or whatever, when I see "unknown" my heart flutters a little

Lol. I love this!! So sweet

Sis of sis · #14 02-02-2013, 06:20 PM

Mine shows up as "out of area"

Matt's Dad · #15 02-04-2013, 09:47 PM

My son's calls come as collect calls through CSA and show up as Unknown on the display but there is an 800# visible. So I saved that number under Matt - he's might be treated as an unknown to the system but never to me!