How to Accept Long Distance Calls From Prison
Having a friend or loved one in jail is a stressful and sometimes confusing experience for those on the outside. Particularly if your loved one is in prison far from your home, it is comforting to know that you can communicate with him or her by phone. Almost all prisons and jails contract with outside phone services to provide a way for inmates to make telephone calls. All calls from jails are collect calls to prevent inmates from harassing people involved in their crimes, and some are recorded. Though all providers have their own programs and requirements, such as deposits or prepaid service, most work essentially the same way.
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Instructions
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Set up the service
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Call the jail to find out what company is the provider for inmate calls and how to contact that company. Call the service or go online to set up an account. If you set up an account, the calls are cheaper. If you don't set up an account, collect calls will be billed to your phone at your provider's rate.
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Answer the phone. There will be a recorded message that informs you the call is coming from a correctional institution. If you don't want to receive the call, hang up. You won't be charged. If you want to hear the rates before you decide whether to connect, press the button on the phone that the voice message directs you to.
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Press the button on your phone that indicates you will accept the call. The voice message will tell you which button to press. If you don't press it, the call will not be connected, per Federal Communications Commission regulations. Once you press that button, you are connected to the inmate and can speak as long as the prison allows the prisoner to speak.
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Tips & Warnings
Setting up an account can save you a lot of money. You call at a discounted rate with a prepaid account or a direct bill account. If you are delinquent about paying your phone bills, and you try to bill the calls to your phone service, you won't be able to accept calls. Your long distance carrier will block you.
