Why do I need to set up a pre-paid collect call account?Collect calls can only be accepted when your phone company has a billing arrangement with the collect call provider. Cell phones and Voip phones cannot directly accept a collect call where it will be billed to your phone bill. Therefore, in order to be able to accept collect calls on a cell phone or VoIP phone, you need to set up a pre-paid account with the collect call provider.
Who is the collect call provider? Each state institution has a contract with a collect call provider. Usually all state institutions within a state have the same provider. You can call the institution to find out who the collect call provider is for that particular institution.
How are collect call rates determined: In most instances, the collect call rates are determined by distance and by the time of day. The further away your phone number's origination is from the institution, the more the call will cost. If the number being called is a local number or a number close in distance to the institution, the rates will be considerably less in most instances. Time of day usually makes a difference. During the day is the most expensive. Rates drop after 5:00 p.m. and drop again after 9:00 p.m. A few states have flat rate calling, no matter where you live within the state. If this is true for the state the prison is located and you live in the same state, this service will not save you any money.
How do I know how much a call will cost? Contact the collect call provider for the institution. Ask the rate for your current phone number. Then ask the rate for a local number. If they need a phone number to check the rates, use the area code and exchange (first 6 numbers) of the phone number to the institution. Compare the two rates to determine approximately how much you will save by having a local phone number to accept the collect calls.
How do I set up a pre-paid collect call account? Contact the collect call provider for the institution. When you set up the pre-paid account, you have to use the new local phone number, not your home phone or cell phone. If you have more than one phone number where you want to accept collect calls, you will need to set up a pre-paid account for each phone number. The pre-paid account is tied to the phone number that is dialed from the institution. With this Voip phone service, you can link your new phone number with any other phone you have in the United States. There is a "find me" feature where you can have the new number ring your home phone, your cell phone, or your work phone until it finds you. This feature is called "simultaneous ring."
What information will the collect call provider need? The name and billing address for the phone service, credit card and pre-paid account must all match. Your name
Your phone number (the new local number)
Your phone company (Voip phone provider name)
Your billing address (The Voip phone number's address is your residence address.)
Your credit card number and billing address. EXAMPLE: With VoIP phone service, you can live in Ohio (for example) and have a California phone number. The address of the California phone number would be your Ohio address. When setting up your pre-paid collect call account, DO NOT indicate that you will be call-forwarding the number to your home phone or linking the number to your home phone.
How do I know which number to choose? In Section 2 of the sign-up process, enter the state and area code, and then choose the closest city. You can go to maps.google.com and enter the location of the institution and surrounding cities to pick the closest city. If you need help choosing a city, send us a message using the chat box, providing the name of the institution, city and state, and we will locate the closest number for you.
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