OBiTALK Community

General Support => Day-to-Day Use => Topic started by: Hortoristic on September 26, 2012, 10:11:10 AM

Title: service availability for collect calls
Post by: Hortoristic on September 26, 2012, 10:11:10 AM
Any company offer the ability to accept collect calls?  A friend has family in the pokey
Title: Re: service availability for collect calls
Post by: jimates on September 26, 2012, 03:43:04 PM
Are they allowed to place calls to known local exchanges? If so, try to get a google voice number that is local to "the pokey".
Title: Re: service availability for collect calls
Post by: jjtricket on September 26, 2012, 03:50:51 PM
Wow, looks like it depends on jurisdiction, local, state federal, etc. Some institutions require collect calls, some will let you call local which would be great with google voice.
Title: Re: service availability for collect calls
Post by: Ostracus on September 26, 2012, 08:58:33 PM
One could always "borrow" a friends land line and forward to where you are using an Obi110 and reimburse the friend for the calls.
Title: Re: service availability for collect calls
Post by: Lavarock7 on September 26, 2012, 11:26:51 PM
Quote from: jjtricket on September 26, 2012, 03:50:51 PM
Wow, looks like it depends on jurisdiction, local, state federal, etc. Some institutions require collect calls, some will let you call local which would be great with google voice.

And if not GV, then perhaps a cheap monthly local phone number from someone like Voip.Ms.
Title: Re: service availability for collect calls
Post by: jimates on October 06, 2012, 04:17:12 PM
See the post from Rene a 'super mod' at Prisontalk forums http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540763&page=6#post6898367

Please be aware that it is against Federal BOP and many state DOC rules for an inmate to use "third party" services that try to reduce prison call costs like GoogleVoice, ConsCallHome, or PrisonCallSolutions (and many others). Those services forward calls to another line, and call forwarding is not allowed. If you have GoogleVoice or one of these other services and your loved one is calling you, you are breaking those BOP or DOC rules. When the BOP or DOC finds out (and they will eventually), you will lose visitation and phone privileges. Google Voice forwards calls to a different line. Facilities have the technology to detect forwarded calls. When the facility detects a forwarded call (and it could be tomorrow or years from now), there are consequences. One of those consequences is disallowing the inmate to call the number that was forwarded and the person who owns the forwarded-to phone could be taken off the inmate's visitors list. I know the calls are expensive, but we have to follow their rules. I'm sorry.

Since call forwarding is not allowed by the facilities, discussing "how to" get those services borders on illegal activities which is against PTO policy cited below.

Please be sure to check with the facility first! It's better to be safe than sorry!