Confused about Global Tel Link/Is there a cheaper way?

[usc6994]

I am soooo confused about this Global Tel Link.I don't know whether to use pre pay,offender trust fund.I can't even get a rate of what the calls are going to cost.I am new at this.My husband was transferred from Overton co. jail to West Tennessee State Penitentary.I haven't heard from him yet.Does anyone know if he would be allowed magazines.Oh and does anyone know anything about Conconnect..they claim they can get a local phone # and get a cheaper rate?

[NotherWife2]

Originally Posted by usc6994

I am soooo confused about this Global Tel Link.I don't know whether to use pre pay,offender trust fund.I can't even get a rate of what the calls are going to cost.I am new at this.My husband was transferred from Overton co. jail to West Tennessee State Penitentary.I haven't heard from him yet.Does anyone know if he would be allowed magazines.Oh and does anyone know anything about Conconnect..they claim they can get a local phone # and get a cheaper rate?

First off is he there for Classification?
The cheapest was is to get a MagicJack and a local number to Henning (Ripley) TN and you can change your number if he is moved to another facility --As far as putting money on GTL - the cheapest way is to send hubby money and for him to send it from WTSP -- they are not charged the fee that we have to pay by using Western Union.
Conconnect is not what would help you lower your rates.
If you use Vonage you can also request a number in the Henning/Ripley area (I have used that when TDOC was trippin on MagicJack) paid 9.99 mo (15.++ with all the BS taxes, etc) for 200 mn outgoing and unlimited incoming. But I still SWEAR by MagicJack!!!!!

[usc6994]

Originally Posted by NotherWife2

First off is he there for Classification?
The cheapest was is to get a MagicJack and a local number to Henning (Ripley) TN and you can change your number if he is moved to another facility --As far as putting money on GTL - the cheapest way is to send hubby money and for him to send it from WTSP -- they are not charged the fee that we have to pay by using Western Union.
Conconnect is not what would help you lower your rates.
If you use Vonage you can also request a number in the Henning/Ripley area (I have used that when TDOC was trippin on MagicJack) paid 9.99 mo (15.++ with all the BS taxes, etc) for 200 mn outgoing and unlimited incoming. But I still SWEAR by MagicJack!!!!!

so it would be better to let him send money from wtsp..somewhere i read that he could by phone card is that right?

[NotherWife2]

Originally Posted by usc6994

so it would be better to let him send money from wtsp..somewhere i read that he could by phone card is that right?

Phone card?? where did you READ that at? It is cheaper for HIM to send out from his "Trust Fund Account" to GTL than any other way.
Here are the links to TDOC Phone Policies n Procedures (TN's BIBLE B.S.)
I am THE ONE who knows TDOC Policies n Procedures better than the one who wrote them ... I am THE ONE and ONLY "reasonable and rational" """MINDED""" person in this GOD FORSAKEN 'state' ..... that can share information with others who don't know any darned better..... (I am really NOT tooting my own 'horn' but, come on --- all it takes is an intelligent mind to figure out the BS...
LAWS -- ie: Rules n Regulations that TDOC MUST follow in accordance with the Federal Gov. re: This hosed up BS in TN AKA "Policies and Procedures: http://www.tn.gov/correction/policies/poly.html
The ones regarding Phone "Priviledges" are:
http://www.tn.gov/correction/pdf/503-08.pdf
and this P n P
http://www.tn.gov/correction/pdf/208-08.pdf
TDOC MUST obey the rules n regs (Policies N Procedures) that THEY set forth/mandated or else THEY would/could and WILL be held accountable in a Federal Court of Law (which is sooo NOT the way TN does ANYthing).
I know that the way I talk is not what Tennesseans understand... I apologize for getting right down with the dirty and the i's being dotted and the t's being crossed). This TDOC is a dirrrrrrty, skankkkky and IGNORANT state

[JTJwife]

The cheapest calls are always local calls. Go to the local dollar general and buy a pre paid phone there. It will be a local number. If you are far away, it will be worth the cost of the prepay and GTL charges.

You can send a check to GTL and the entire amount gets credited to your account. If you pay over the phone, you get a processing fee.

[His Bonnie]

Hi Y'all,

Hello! This is my first ever post on here. I am totally new to all of this. Just reconnected with my "first love" (also third cousin...you know how it is in small town TN ) as friends/cousins only, since I'm married (he's not). Unfortunately he happens to be taking a bit of an, um, vacation, at MCCX. I would like to be able to talk to him on the phone. I have a cell phone with unlimited nationwide calling through Verizon. Do I have to do all the Global Tel stuff?

Elphie

[rosfriend]

Originally Posted by Elphie

Hi Y'all,

Hello! This is my first ever post on here. I am totally new to all of this. Just reconnected with my "first love" (also third cousin...you know how it is in small town TN ) as friends/cousins only, since I'm married (he's not). Unfortunately he happens to be taking a bit of an, um, vacation, at MCCX. I would like to be able to talk to him on the phone. I have a cell phone with unlimited nationwide calling through Verizon. Do I have to do all the Global Tel stuff?

Elphie

Unfortunately, yes, you do.

[NotherWife2]

Originally Posted by rosfriend

Unfortunately, yes, you do.

Yes, you do HAVE to deal with GTL. This is the best way that YOU can do it with a cell phone:
Get a number that is in-close as possible to- where he is at.
WAIT for the institution to put your number on his 'approved' calling list.
Cheapest of all cheapest ways is to send him money (Postal money order is quickest even though others are now """approved"") and have him send to GTL via Inmate Trust Fund Account the money..... YOU can do this via Western Union -- for the additional FEE's (this IS 'America' Land of the GREEDY-DIRTY-LOW DOWN DOGS!!) by sending it to HIS name and his TDOC # and he will be able to call you....
The BEST way that YOU can figure out this quagmire of TDOC/DOC Bul1Dookey is by reading and understanding the TDOC "Policies and Procedures"...
http://www.tennessee.gov/correction/policies/poly.html
and in this scroll down to these regarding Inmate Phone and Trust Fund
http://www.tennessee.gov/correction/pdf/208-01.pdf
http://www.tennessee.gov/correction/pdf/208-08.pdf

[AwareNow]

Originally Posted by NotherWife2

Phone card?? where did you READ that at? It is cheaper for HIM to send out from his "Trust Fund Account" to GTL than any other way.
Here are the links to TDOC Phone Policies n Procedures (TN's BIBLE B.S.)
I am THE ONE who knows TDOC Policies n Procedures better than the one who wrote them ... I am THE ONE and ONLY "reasonable and rational" """MINDED""" person in this GOD FORSAKEN 'state' ..... that can share information with others who don't know any darned better..... (I am really NOT tooting my own 'horn' but, come on --- all it takes is an intelligent mind to figure out the BS...
LAWS -- ie: Rules n Regulations that TDOC MUST follow in accordance with the Federal Gov. re: This hosed up BS in TN AKA "Policies and Procedures: http://www.tn.gov/correction/policies/poly.html
The ones regarding Phone "Priviledges" are:
http://www.tn.gov/correction/pdf/503-08.pdf
and this P n P
http://www.tn.gov/correction/pdf/208-08.pdf
TDOC MUST obey the rules n regs (Policies N Procedures) that THEY set forth/mandated or else THEY would/could and WILL be held accountable in a Federal Court of Law (which is sooo NOT the way TN does ANYthing).
I know that the way I talk is not what Tennesseans understand... I apologize for getting right down with the dirty and the i's being dotted and the t's being crossed). This TDOC is a dirrrrrrty, skankkkky and IGNORANT state

Watch the movie Deliverance. It will life your spirits. It only took me six months to figure out that you only count in TN if "you're one of us".

I was so impressed with how nice, friendly, welcoming and honest Tennessee is that I moved to Boston at the first opportunity (can you get any more opposite). It's the best move I ever made. Your experience is not unique to corrections, it's the same down there in the corporate world.

[D's lady]

I have a cell phone (865 area code) my man is in MCCX. He was able to call me the day he got there. He is in classification. I have a prepaid account thru GTL. My rates are $3.80 for a 30 minute call. Not too bad considering it was $2.80 for a 10 min call from county jail.

Sent from my iPhone using PrisonTalk

[nikkicomrade]

I have an easy way to get cheap calls from GTL, first if you send a money order they don't charge extra fees. Second and most important, get a free Google voice account with a number from the city he's in or as close as possible. This will reduce the cost of the calls tremendously. Our calls were close to $4 & now they are $1.25. You can have the Google calls sent to whatever phone you want. It's simple, free, and you don't need to change your number or get a new phone.

[D's lady]

Originally Posted by nikkicomrade

I have an easy way to get cheap calls from GTL, first if you send a money order they don't charge extra fees. Second and most important, get a free Google voice account with a number from the city he's in or as close as possible. This will reduce the cost of the calls tremendously. Our calls were close to $4 & now they are $1.25. You can have the Google calls sent to whatever phone you want. It's simple, free, and you don't need to change your number or get a new phone.

Send a money order to the prison? Can I do that while he is in classification?

Sent from my iPhone using PrisonTalk

[rosfriend]

Originally Posted by nikkicomrade

I have an easy way to get cheap calls from GTL, first if you send a money order they don't charge extra fees. Second and most important, get a free Google voice account with a number from the city he's in or as close as possible. This will reduce the cost of the calls tremendously. Our calls were close to $4 & now they are $1.25. You can have the Google calls sent to whatever phone you want. It's simple, free, and you don't need to change your number or get a new phone.

Forwarding is against TDOC policy. I just wanted to make sure that anyone who does this knows that it's against policy and that they can be removed from an inmate's call list if they're caught forwarding.
ROS

[rosfriend]

Originally Posted by D's lady

Send a money order to the prison? Can I do that while he is in classification?

Sent from my iPhone using PrisonTalk

She means to send the money order directly to GTL. If you do so they do not charge the $4.75 fee as they do with online account refill, or by phone refill.

ROS

[D's lady]

Originally Posted by rosfriend

She means to send the money order directly to GTL. If you do so they do not charge the $4.75 fee as they do with online account refill, or by phone refill.

ROS

Do I write anything specific on it? Because I prepaid $50 over the phone and they charged me a $10 fee

Sent from my iPhone using PrisonTalk

[rosfriend]

Originally Posted by D's lady

Do I write anything specific on it? Because I prepaid $50 over the phone and they charged me a $10 fee

Sent from my iPhone using PrisonTalk

IDK, you could call them and ask them how to specifically address it.
Ive never done that before.
ROS

[juss me6]

they have that for the jails in ny i changed my cell number to the town where he is instead of payin $15 for a phone call i now pay 4

[D'BrianBooBaby]

Originally Posted by nikkicomrade

I have an easy way to get cheap calls from GTL, first if you send a money order they don't charge extra fees. Second and most important, get a free Google voice account with a number from the city he's in or as close as possible. This will reduce the cost of the calls tremendously. Our calls were close to $4 & now they are $1.25. You can have the Google calls sent to whatever phone you want. It's simple, free, and you don't need to change your number or get a new phone.

So I setup my google account. I was wondering does this really work. What I do next just give him the number to add to his account.

[superdreamATM]

we have to put up with GTL...but getting a virtual number in the same city as the prison is a big money saver. I use hostednumber.com and pay less than $1 for a 30 minute call.

[aro]

Since my hubby was moved, he calls from a 713 number. I looked it up- it's a Texas number! I have always changed my number when he moves, and we have always had $1 calls- until now. I changed my number to one that is local to the facility- nearly $4 per call! I also got a 713 number just to see because that's where he was calling from- nearly $40 for one call!!!! I'll never do that again! I just don't know why the number he calls from is a Texas number and not local! All I can come up with is that it's CCA. This is his first CCA facility.

[heysmom]

Originally Posted by aro

Since my hubby was moved, he calls from a 713 number. I looked it up- it's a Texas number! I have always changed my number when he moves, and we have always had $1 calls- until now. I changed my number to one that is local to the facility- nearly $4 per call! I also got a 713 number just to see because that's where he was calling from- nearly $40 for one call!!!! I'll never do that again! I just don't know why the number he calls from is a Texas number and not local! All I can come up with is that it's CCA. This is his first CCA facility.

My sons calls are 713 also and he is in Pikeville. I have vonage and its .95 per call. Also its not a CCA facility.

[aro]

Originally Posted by heysmom

My sons calls are 713 also and he is in Pikeville. I have vonage and its .95 per call. Also its not a CCA facility.

.95??? Really? I can't figure it out this time. This is the first time in years we have had to pay more than $1 per call, and it's driving me insane! I have a number that is local to him (same area code and first 3 digits). Every facility we have been to, it has worked- until now!

[rosfriend]

Originally Posted by aro

Since my hubby was moved, he calls from a 713 number. I looked it up- it's a Texas number! I have always changed my number when he moves, and we have always had $1 calls- until now. I changed my number to one that is local to the facility- nearly $4 per call! I also got a 713 number just to see because that's where he was calling from- nearly $40 for one call!!!! I'll never do that again! I just don't know why the number he calls from is a Texas number and not local! All I can come up with is that it's CCA. This is his first CCA facility.

All GTL calls are routed through Texas. Your caller ID will either give that area code, or it will say 'unavailable'. That is why the price of your calls went up...it works on the 'local' to the prison, not to the number it's routed through.

[aro]

Originally Posted by rosfriend

All GTL calls are routed through Texas. Your caller ID will either give that area code, or it will say 'unavailable'. That is why the price of your calls went up...it works on the 'local' to the prison, not to the number it's routed through.

Actually, when an imnate calls from Riverbend it is a 615 number-which is Nashville. And I understand the "local" part- my husband is in Clifton and I have a Clifton number. Thanks though.

[rosfriend]

<shrug> Everyone I've ever talked to said that they get calls from Texas, or unavailable. Sorry.