So...to recieve a call from my husband where he is, I have to PAY $25???

[lildreamer316]

Look--please no judgements--husband is in 24 hour lockup.
He just tried to call me. The phone said it was a FREE call.
THEN it said I had not cleared it with my carrier to accept the collect call, and to visit this website to set up an account.
Which the minimum payment is $25.
I understand that there has been a problem, massive problem with inmates calling and charging shit to other peoples' phones.I understand this.
NO ONE told us to do this. NO ONE told me I had to set up an account to recieve his calls. my phone carrier is not open past 6PM. At all.
What if something happened to him? What if he's sick?
I suppose we "deserve" this. If he did something to warrant this lockup, I guess we "deserve" to be
inconvenienced, huh?
What with the fact we are day-to-day as it is. Yep, we sure can afford that $25 plus, 'cause who knows how much they charge per miniute, anyway. I'll bet that lasts all of 5 to 8 min. at the most.
What the fuck ever.


:rant: :cry:

[Madrone]

1. The jail phone system is a HUGE scam!

I went through something like this a bit over a year ago - a friend was in jail after a car accident that was her fault and killed her 3 year old daughter. I spent hours/days/weeks on the internet trying to figure out the best way to keep in contact while she was in jail - as her abusive husband was one of the only people in contact with her - NOT a good situation at all.

Anyway - jail calls are a total fucking scam run by independent companies. There are some alternative "cheaper" ways to handle the phone calls - I don't remember any of them specifically, but start doing some research on the internets using the google. Especially if he's going to be in for awhile.

It will be expensive no matter what, but there are definitely better alternatives than the one they'll TELL you about.

[Madrone]

6. Addendum -

I don't have time to go through the whole site but this link will likely have some discussions and suggestions for cheaper jail calls. Good luck, and sorry you have to deal with this. :hug:


http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/archive/index.php/f-70.html


One more - same site:

http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=70

[lildreamer316]

7. Thanks so much.

I will definately check into this. Thanks for doing some of that research.

[Madrone]

8. No problem -

Even though I need to get up and get the animals fed (as soon as I post this as I have dramatic kitties that think they may faint at any moment!) I kept clicking around - start w/ the second link, there's a "sticky" post near the top that discusses where you can find cheaper calls.

Good luck!







*mutter* alright kitties, DAMN - I'm coming already......

[Ptah]

9. I'll second that recommendation.

You will find good people there

http://www.prisontalk.com/

:hug:

[ThomCat]

16. It's a huge scam.

Phone companies bid to get that captive audience because they know they can charge a fortune. And the prisons get a portion of the revenue. It's legal kickbacks.
x(

I work in telecom managment, and even we consider it unethical and scummy. It's not a reputable part of our industry.

A lot of telecom services were developed by the porn industry (huge amounts of money went into developing 900 services, automated attendants, IVRs, and related voicemail technology for audio porn and escort services) but the porn connections are respected much more than the prison connections. The blatant theft from prisoners and their families is just incredibly disgusting.

[Ptah]

2. I know exactly what you are talking about.

A fifteen minute call from my son can cost $20.00.

:crazy: :nuke: :nuke: :banghead:

Those bastards.

:cry:

[lildreamer316]

10. I'm so sorry, Ptah.

That must be hell for you.:hug:

[Ptah]

13. It's hell for anyone that has a family member that is incarcerated.

:hug:

you might find support here:

http://www.prisontalk.com/





:pals:

[Kerrytravelers]

3. I'm so sorry.

:hug: This is just one more way of the poor being fleeced.

[lildreamer316]

11. That was exactly my thought.

We can scrape it together to pay; but part of my outrage is that there must be thousands of people who cannot afford to. It's utter crap.

[Kerrytravelers]

20. In my opinion, this is a way of punishing the families.

Whatever happened (and it's NOT my business,) it wasn't something you did, seeing that you are not in lock-up. Therefore, by causing you all this money and frustration (like you didn't already have enough frustration and not enough money) they are punishing you as well.

Meanwhile, the wealthy can afford bond and lawyers who golf with the judges... :eyes:

[lildreamer316]

27. It's not all that bad..

and he's only there one day a week. I did have a good lawyer, because he knew my mother (but it's still costing us a hell of a lot).
Yes, they are punishing me, my 3 year old, and of course my husband.
I hope someday we as a society can actually adress these problems.

[Nicole]

4. That's horrible.

I don't care why he is locked up, you don't deserve to be scammed out of that much money for a phone call.

[lildreamer316]

12. Thanks for your thoughts.

I can't believe they can get away with that crap.

[crim son]

5. What utter bullshit.

I remember being aware of something like this, because our neighbor was in jail on multiple occasions... alcoholic who liked to drive... and he was unable to afford to make any calls. The guy lived in a trailer with no plumbing, for gawd's sake! I'm sorry lildreamer316. That is too harsh.

[lildreamer316]

14. Ya know,

if someone (like the probation officer) had told us about this beforehand, it wouldn't have been so upsetting. I still think it's a hell of a ripoff, but at least I could have budgeted for it.
What about those that can't afford to? Ever?
Ah, well.

[crim son]

15. They don't care about those who can't afford to.

We can't afford the nearly $7K property tax on our house. For years we saw it go up and we complained, spoke to our reps, spoke to the tax assessors and had them walk through the house. We told them we'd have to sell if the taxes were again increased. They were increased and guess what? We're selling. I guess the idea is that somebody who can afford the taxes is a better homeowner anyway. I feel for you.

[ThomCat]

17. Very true. The common attitude is that

it's your fault for not being rich enough. x(

Money should never be a requirement for being taken into consideration and being treated with respect.

[crim son]

18. I know it.

I've been at both ends of the spectrum... okay, I haven't been incredibly rich but I was once well-off. Things are truly different when you don't have the money. Thing is, I prefer it. Less is more. I prefer the people, the attitudes and the fashions. Ha!

[Ptah]

22. roof-to-roof.

Spectrum. Two ends.




:silly:

[crim son]

24. Are you saying I can't be, like

30%f from the end of the spectum? That's just confusing! I love the photo, BTW. Rainbows. I'm always looking for 'em.

[Ptah]

25. I don't know what I am saying. Here's another pic:

[crim son]

28. So nice.

Here in Maine, winter is coming on. I'm not a fan of the season but one thing I do like are the pink sunsets. Pink light filtered through pine trees and reflected from the snow. If I ever get out of here, it will be the one thing I miss. You? If you left and moved to, say, Alaska, what would you miss?

[Ptah]

29. Move to Alaska? Ha Ha Ha.

I was born and raised on the prairie of central Montana.

I have made my home here in the Sonoran Desert.

Same precipitation, different climate.

Based on my memory of Montana winters of -40F,
(before the invention of wind chill), Alaska would
be somewhere that my weather 'wimp-factor' would
send me south.

Couldn't do it.

[crim son]

30. It's a hypothetical question, Ptah!

Mountains are too lofty and stark for me. I'm the only one in the world who doesn't care for the Austrian alps.

[MoseyWalker]

19. what utter bullshit is right

people should not be kept from their loved ones for lack of money in this world where everyone and their cousin is locked up at one time or another on a bullshit charge.

my 2 cents.

[crim son]

21. But worth at least four!

:)

[ChoralScholar]

23. Is the system as such

that he just can't use 1-800-COLLECT or some such?

[Madrone]

26. The system -

companies bid for the ability to control the prison phone systems in a state. the winning bidder is never the cheapest company, it's the one that gives the largest kickbacks to the prison. HUGE scam - very very very shady.

The new thing is "pre paid" calls - many prisons won't allow a collect call anymore. Now if you want someone to call you from jail you have to set up an account with some correctional billing system for your phone number ONLY - and usually pay a minimum down of about $50. $50 would have *maybe* gotten me three 15 minute calls from my friend when she was in jail.

[Why Syzygy]

37. and if the

only person you know has a cell phone, forget about it. No collect calls. There is no justice in the jail house.

[Porcupine]

31. The prison system is more about farming inmates than justice.

As long as GWB walks free there ain't no justice.

[lildreamer316]

32. Ain't that the truth.

What husband did, is not the end of the world, but I do believe the sentence to be just, because there are so many people who do not realize how serious what he did can be, and how dangerous. I perfectly understand why the sentence was so harsh, and so does he. It has forced him to deal with a problem he had been in denial about, which I am glad he is working through. But I fear for his state of mind-I am afraid this is just going to beat him down too far to recover from. He is strong, but some things....you know.

We seriously need an overhaul. I hope this gets started in my lifetime.

[Oeditpus Rex]

33. It just so happens

that I know someone in your city who might have the connections on both sides to look into this and maybe — maybe — start to get something done about it.

I'm gonna e-mail her.

:hug:

[lildreamer316]

34. Wow.

Well, thanks for the thought--if something happens, great, but...
I appreciate you doing this,whatever happens eventually. Maybe someone will be helped.
I do hope I will be around when we start to address this issue on a national level.

[Oeditpus Rex]

35. Yeah, it's...

... :dilemma:



Ah, hell. Check your PM.

[Why Syzygy]

36. oh honney

so sorry ..