Notice to new members intending to register - from January 9th 2012

RdRunner75 · #1 07-28-2012, 10:31 PM

Has anyone heard about Consolidated losing their contract with IDOC? My husband called today and said he heard they are getting a new phone provider and it's possibly Securus. We had to go through them while he was in county jail and they are not very pleasant, at least not to me they weren't.

Purplegirl1008 · #2 07-29-2012, 12:31 AM

Oh gosh I hope not! I like Consolidated! Well not their prices lol. Does Securus allow calls to cell phones? I'll ask Jesse if he's heard anything on Monday.

**MiniMoose** · #3 07-29-2012, 08:22 AM

Yes, Securus allows phone calls to cell phones. Before my LO transferred to Fedland, Securus is who we had. You just need to make sure you add the number to your account when you set it up. I had my land line and cell phone number listed.

The rumor mill is that they will take over on August 1 however, if true, a move such as this is huge and could probably take a considerable amount of time.

Purplegirl1008 · #4 07-29-2012, 08:57 AM

So do you think they will be switched over by August 16th? We don't have much time left but I don't want there to be a lapse in our calls. If they switch over August 1 and I set up an account that day how long would it take to get calls?

**MiniMoose** · #5 07-29-2012, 03:06 PM

Unfortunately I don't have an answer to your question. Since it's pretty much rumor as to the start date, who knows how long it could take. If you're worried about missing phone calls you could set up an account with Securus. They will refund whatever money isn't spent when you close the account.

Purplegirl1008 · #6 07-29-2012, 07:23 PM

Well I guess since it's a rumor right now I'm probably okay. We only have 8 more times to talk on the phone anyway before he is home.

RdRunner75 · #7 08-01-2012, 11:14 PM

Well Consolidated is no longer going to be the provider but they couldn't say who has the contract. They also couldn't provide when this is all to transpire. But assured me of a refund of any monies left on the account, when the new provider takes over. This really sucks. I get paid once a month. I'm on a fixed income and at the beginning of the month is when I load all my pre pay talk time for the whole month so I only pay one processing fee, and taxes. I'm afraid to load all the money on there because who knows how long it would take to get a refund back and I wouldn't have any money left to load to a new company until the refund came back to me, so we would sit with no phone calls. Or I can just load a little at a time but have to pay the extra processing fees and taxes. I hope it isn't Securus because what they did is if your account fell below either $7 or $10, I can't remember which amount, then the call wouldn't go through even though we had plenty for the connect fee and per minute rate. I learned that the hard way while my husband was in county jail. I was under by just a few cents. Then when you want the convience of load over the phone with a credit or debit card the minimum load was $25. So if we were out of minutes and I didn't have $25, I had to go to the Western Union to load at least the $7 or $10 for a call if I needed to speak to him about something important. Thankfully towards the end of his county stay the jail started selling the inmates calling cards for $10 plus tax and there was no certain minimum that had to be left on the calling card in order for the call to go through, other then the intial connect fee and about a dollar for a few more minutes. A friend of mine emailed IDOC and got a reply back stating this: IDOC is in the procurement for the inmate phone contract; this is a routine process for when a contract expires with a vendor. If IDOC changes vendors, the agency will post new information on the website, post notifications for the inmates and send communications to existing prepaid account holders on how to set up a new account.

Purplegirl1008 · #8 08-02-2012, 11:10 AM

OH great. So I wonder how much longer Consolidated will be doing the calls for? I have like 6 calls left with him before he is released and I'm scared to put the money on the phone and then have them change it like the next day. GRRRRR

Bewitching · #9 08-03-2012, 07:04 AM

You can read the entire article here.

Securus has apparently been awarded the contract previously held by Consolidated, and will begin the switchover process in August, which is expected to take several months to complete. Securus is the present vendor at the Cook County jail.

RdRunner75 · #10 08-03-2012, 08:06 AM

Ok, I just got off the phone with Consolidated because today is payday and I needed to load minutes, and was told by the rep that they got an extention on their contract until October. The lady kept reassuring me of that, because I kept stressing how important it is that I know what's going on because I'm on a fixed income and can't be left hanging come mid month with no money to load to a new company until I received the refund from what's left from Consolidated. Again, she reassured me everyone is good until October, but after that she just doesn't know, but hopes they hold on to the contract. She whispers to me that Securus is the one running for the contract, because I asked if it was them. So everyone I guess we are ok until then. I wonder if this extention really means that's how long it's going to be for the switch over to complete, because since she had to whisper information, I'm taking it as Securus does have it and Consolidated just can't say that at this time....just my thinking on that.

Purplegirl1008 · #11 08-03-2012, 08:36 AM

Thank you for this info, RdRunner! I have to put some more minutes on probably Monday and I was worried that as soon as I put money on that they would switch as soon as I did that. Now my mind can be at ease! We only have 6 more calls before he is home anyway. Thank you so much!

RdRunner75 · #12 08-03-2012, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purplegirl1008

Thank you for this info, RdRunner! I have to put some more minutes on probably Monday and I was worried that as soon as I put money on that they would switch as soon as I did that. Now my mind can be at ease! We only have 6 more calls before he is home anyway. Thank you so much!

You're welcome. Yeah it had me freaking out as well.

I'm so happy for you, that you and your loved one's time is just about here. That's great! I wish you two the best!

**Patty** · #13 08-03-2012, 03:41 PM

If you try to open an account online with Securus and put your loved one's facility in and it doesn't go through, it means Securus doesn't have the account yet. This is a HUGE business. They are going to do everything possible to keep the money coming in as fast as they can get their hands on it. For that reason alone, I ain't gonna sweat this one way or the other.

Purplegirl1008 · #14 08-03-2012, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RdRunner75

You're welcome. Yeah it had me freaking out as well.

I'm so happy for you, that you and your loved one's time is just about here. That's great! I wish you two the best!

Thank you! Just got my Friday call so now we are down to 5 more calls before he is out (he can only call monday, wednesday, and friday). I warned him about the phone thing and said if for some reason we can't get our calls, I know what time his bus comes in and I'll see him on release day.

RdRunner75 · #15 01-08-2013, 10:45 AM

Ok, incase anyone isn't aware of this, I'd like to update everyone on what I just found. Securus has got IDOC's phone contract. This is posted on the IDOC's website in red letters here: http://www2.illinois.gov/idoc/commun...eServices.aspx Also, here is the website for Securus so you can watch for your loved ones facility to show up here: http://www.securustech.net/ I hope this isn't going to put a lag in calls. My husband said he had new phones put in on his deck. He told me this before I found this info. He thought it was to replace the older phones, looks like not. I'm still loading money to Consolidated for us to talk, so Vandalia must haven't switched yet. More aggravation, as if any of us needed any more!

Marci59 · #16 01-08-2013, 01:09 PM

What happens to minutes already paid for with Consolidated? Hoping they roll over....have minutes on my husband's phone for my brother to call on...

RdRunner75 · #17 01-08-2013, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marci59

What happens to minutes already paid for with Consolidated? Hoping they roll over....have minutes on my husband's phone for my brother to call on...

Once the switch over is done at your brother's facility, call Consolidated and they will issue you a refund of what's left on the account. It's not rolling over to Securus. I've been trying to talk to an operator with Consolidated all day but I keep having to hang up because my lil ones are up and demanding. The longest I've gotten to wait so far is 23 minutes. Everyone must be calling in because normally for me 5 minutes is the longest I've ever had to wait to get an operator.

**Patty** · #18 01-08-2013, 04:41 PM

I emailed Securus to see if they had knowledge of a change over time for my man's facility and they responded promptly that it is not in their system. My guess is that until a specific facility change is close it won't be.

It was too late to call Consolidated so I did call Sebastian's facility (Robinson Correctional) where I spoke with two different gentlemen. Unfortunately the information we have from the website is more than they were able to tell me, although I will say that they were eager to assist. I was told to call back tomorrow before 3:30 pm so that I can speak with someone who should have better information which I will do.

It would be helpful if those with loved one's from Big Muddy could chime in and tell us how this is or will work for them. That would alleviate some of the questions others will have about the process.

Marci59 · #19 01-08-2013, 07:49 PM

I am hoping my brother eventually returns to big muddy after resentencing...why I asked about the time on my husband's phone...if big muddy has already gone through the change then I guess I need to contact consolidated to get a refund....

**blah8705** · #20 01-08-2013, 07:52 PM

I'd hope that they'd put it on the recording we hear when our LO calls us when it's almost time for them to switch over. If it wasn't for me checking out this board, I would have NEVER known that it was even doing that. At least, I hope they let the inmates know very soon so they can tell us.

KatieM. · #21 01-08-2013, 08:27 PM

I was just on the securus site and they have a system where you plug in your number and the facility to see how much the calls will cost. Its SAYS that for me to receive my usual 30 minute call it will only be $4.10. This seems too good to be true.

RdRunner75 · #22 01-09-2013, 11:51 PM

Ok, I just got off the phone with Securus. they have a 24 hour line. KatieM seems your rate would be correct. I don't know where your loved one is at and where you are located, but I got the same rate from the online system and the rep comfirmed that my rate is $4.10 for 30 minutes as well and I'm approx. 250 miles away from my husband.

Here is the phone system scoop for everyone and this is info from a rep at Securus. January is offering a no minium load, after that there is a $25 pre pay minimum load. The load fee is $6.95 if you use the internet or Western Union. If you mail in check or money order to pre pay then there is no load fee, it's free, but it takes 7-10 for it to be credited to your account. Also, you must have two 30 minute call amounts on your account for a call to go through. In my case...my rate is $4.10 plus tax, which is $4.47 for 30 minutes. So I would have to have $8.94 of pre pay on my account in order to connect the call. This is happening at different times, In my case, Vandalia will be in effect with Securus March 11th. So, just a suggestion, I would call Securus and find out when your l/o's facilities phone system will be active with Securus, so you're ready and don't miss a call. hope this info helps everyone.

**blah8705** · #23 01-10-2013, 12:13 AM

I'm so happy they're switching to Securus. I remember when my fiance was in county jail, and they used that and it was soooooooooo cheap! It seems IDOC is helping us outmates out a little bit by switching over, so now it won't break my flipping bank so much!!

RdRunner75 · #24 01-10-2013, 12:19 AM

Sorry I should have included this in my last post. The number to Securus is 800-844-6591. and I have a few friends that have l/o's in Vienna and Shawnee so I asked for those start dates and they are: Vienna, Feb 18th. Shawnee, March 4th. So anyone with l/o's in those facilities there are the dates for you.

RdRunner75 · #25 01-10-2013, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blah8705

I'm so happy they're switching to Securus. I remember when my fiance was in county jail, and they used that and it was soooooooooo cheap! It seems IDOC is helping us outmates out a little bit by switching over, so now it won't break my flipping bank so much!!

I had them when my hubby was in county and wow they sucked for us! But about a month before he transfered to the DOC they started selling phone cards to the inmates which made things easier and a lot cheaper, but it's still the aggravation, for me anyway, of that minimum load of $25 and having to have 2 full phone calls worth of money on there in order to connect. I'm a bad one for at the end of the month when we are out of talk time to hop online with Consolidated and load $5 just to get an I love you and how are you in, because as long as you load online with Consolidated you don't have that minimum of $10 talk time load that you have when you call in to talk to there reps and have them do it. But I have to give it to Securus this time, these rates are a whole lot better, I'll just have to watch ourselves to ensure at the end of the month we have money on there for some quick I love yous.