If You Are Currently Using Prison Calls Online (Tele-Net), Please Give Feedback HERE.

Cameo · #1 02-25-2003, 03:53 PM

I know we have a few members who are using the Tele-net service to combat the high cost of collect calls and what I'd like is for those members to post. Please just give the rest of us members a little idea of how the service is working, the savings in $$ and anything else you'd like to share about it.

I know we are getting so many new members joining PTO and I'm sure they are going through some frustrating experiences with the high collect call rates. I was hoping by condensing members experiences with Tele-net, we can reach more members with this cost savings alternative.

Thank you and please feel free to copy and paste if you have already posted in another thread. I will be making this thread into a 'sticky' in the near future.

Pamela

**Lysbeth** · #2 02-25-2003, 06:03 PM

Well, my service is set up and ready to go but I'm not actually using it yet... we're still waiting for the little old lady who is historically slow about it to get my new number on his phone list, sigh.

But I can share many good things about it otherwise. My calls were almost $20 per call for a 15 minute call. Now they will be about $4.25. I'm paying about $18 a month for the remote forwarding and another $3.95 or something a month to Tele-Net, but I don't mind paying that monthly one bit when I was generally paying $60 a night in call charges every time he called and now it will be like $15!!!

I also felt good that they have plans in mind in case you run into any problems with the DOC over using it... the particular company that runs the prison phones where my guy's at, the Tele-Net folks have a good rapport with and have some experience trying to work things out with them. So that's good to know in case anything happens!

Excellent customer service too... Richard (golf_buddy) can answer any and all questions you have and assuage any concerns. And they got me set up fast too! Now if that little old lady will just hurry up and do her job getting my new number on the prison phone list, I can let y'all know how well it's working once I'm actually using it!

Anyway, yup, count me as another happy and satisfied Tele-Net customer!!!

irisheyes66 · #3 02-25-2003, 06:59 PM

When I first started receiving calls from Shawn, I had to set up a "correctional account" through AT&T. At the time, I was using them for my long distance anyway, and they are the only "approved" (by the DOC) carrier for Kansas prisons. There were all these limits, and rules...it drove me nuts. The worst of all was the $5.95 "connection fee" for every call, as well as the downright criminal .89 CENTS for each minute we talked....that meant a half hour of talking was $33.00, and a full hour was $60.00!!!! As you can imagine, it didn't take long before I was battling them over random blocks, and falling behind on my bill. My highest bill for a one month period was almost $500.00...I almost fell through the floor. Shawn and I decided to cool it, but it was soooooooo hard!!!!

When I heard about Tele-Net, I'll admit, I was skeptical. I wondered how these people could circumvent AT&T, whose customer service rep had already told me (in an ominous tone) that they were my ONLY choice if I wanted to talk to my honey. I started seeing posts about Tele-Net here at PTO, and I read all I could. I called for my price quote, and an application. Yes, they do a credit check, and I was sweating that out....since my ex and I split, my credit has gone right to hell. They were so patient on the phone, answering every single question I asked...sometimes more than once *grin*. Imagine my surprise when they accepted me! LOL!

The costs have been what I expected.....and are true to the quote I received. The monthly charges are $16 for the remote forwarding line, and $3.95 for Tele-Net's legwork....$20 total. The per-call charges are a $4 connection fee for each call that is accepted, and .15 cents per minute of talking. That makes a half-hour call $8.50, and a full-hour call $13.00, as opposed to the outrageous amount I was spending for AT&T. There are some taxes added on, but that is the same with any long-distance service.

Tele-Net is saving me big bucks on my calls with Shawn....almost 75%, in fact!

I've had Tele-Net for months now....the service itself is great, the bills are reasonable, and when I have had questions or concerns, the customer service was accessible, polite, and efficient. In the beginning, I just submitted my new Tele-Net number to the prison, and they added it to Shawn's list, no questions asked.....I've never had a single issue with the DOC causing trouble.

Without Tele-Net, I would not be talking to Shawn today....AT&T would have cut me off long ago, at their outrageous prices!

Thanks, Richard and Tele-Net!

Susan in Providence

PS---I am in Rhode Island, and Shawn is in Kansas, so these calls are a lifeline for us!

deb · #4 02-25-2003, 08:33 PM

In the process now as Richard says they do Michigan now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll let you know how it works out.

Deb

**David** · #5 03-12-2003, 08:20 PM

Please use this thread ONLY for feedback on the service. If you have questions, please start another thread. Thanks! Fed-X

TxRenee · #6 03-12-2003, 11:39 PM

Ohhh I just saw this!! I have been using Tele-Net since like Nov/Dec I LOVE IT!! If I ever lay eyes on Richard he might be in trouble from the big HUGS he would get

I now talk to Tony every day or every other day and I pay around total phone bills around 300 a month...NOW don't get scared...I talked to him 75 times in 30 days lol and I had some regular long distance on my reg bill. I am having him cut back to every other day now but Tele-Net saved me!!
*HUGS* and Thanks Tele-Net and Richard
Renee

Jo36 · #7 03-18-2003, 05:47 PM

Hey, anyone getting calls from loved ones in prison. Try TELNET. I just got my bill for 1 month it was 124.00 compared to 3 to 400.00 a month. I was paying 15.45 for 15 min. Now I'm paying about 4.75 for 15 min. From FL to IN

Jo36 · #8 03-24-2003, 05:31 PM

I just got my bills for Telnet . My son is in Fl. I have to pay Bell south 85.34, and Powernet Global 53.50 for a total of 138.84. My last bill from Correctional Billing was for 274.00 for lesser time used. Greatest thing since sliced bread.

**Lysbeth** · #9 03-24-2003, 06:28 PM

My sweetie & I talked for an hour and forty-five minutes last night, seven calls total. $29.68... and I used to pay over $20 for one lousy fifteen minute call.

I LUV TELE-NET!!!!

deb · #10 04-04-2003, 06:34 PM

My tele net is up and working since this past Monday!!!! Who is saving major bucks now??????? I will post when I get the first bill!

Deb

kimla · #11 06-16-2003, 11:57 PM

I just got my first phone bills from PowerNet and Quest.

Each phone call used to cost me about $20 for 15 minutes of time. I think it was about $5.90 for the connection fee plus 89 cents a minute (plus all the taxes of course).

I am very happy to report I now pay $1.91 for a connection fee plus 15 cents a minute to talk. So now our 15 minute phone conversations are about $5.00 a phone call!!

Richard was so helpful and patient with me when I was setting the service up with his company. I appreciate all the time he took with me for me to feel comforatable switching over to this service.

Kim

TxRenee · #12 06-17-2003, 01:12 AM

WooooooooHooooooo Another great Tele-Net Story

**Ken** · #13 06-17-2003, 04:14 AM

I recently signed up and have just received my second call through the TeleNet system... I have not received a bill yet but I know from the price that TeleNet gave me that my bills will be half for the same time talking.

Richard from TeleNet has been awesome... AND, if you can believe - he called me after the phone was connected to check that it was working AND, AND, AND he Thanked me for signing up! When was the last time a 'phone company' Thanked you...?

celestialangel · #14 07-25-2003, 11:27 AM

Post Deleted by Fed-X - OFF-TOPIC
This CLEARLY asks for feedback IF you are using Tele-Net. Nothing more, nothing less.

**Ken** · #15 07-30-2003, 07:47 PM

I have only had TeleNet for just over a month now... I am now getting calls twice a week (instead of once) and the bill is STILL cheaper than when I was getting one call a week!

I had the choice to get more calls or keep the calling schedule the same and save money - we chose more calls and to my surprise we are still saving money - and a significant amount too!