Phone Calls

 “Funds in your account are low. Please add funds to place calls in the future.”

That message following the standard “You’re getting a call from an inmate, this call will be recorded and monitored.” means your account is out of money. Basically pay up or you're not getting any more calls.

The cost of calls from prison is such a ripoff, $3.66 per 20 minute call plus a $7.95 fee just to put money on your account. I find that totally unreasonable, why does it cost almost $8 to charge my card online. I’m not paying for someone to process it, it’s all automatic. There might be a small fee for using a card, like the 50cents they charge at some gas stations for using debit. Something reasonable might be 1-2 dollars but the 8 is purely for profit. Can't forget the mention that the DOC gets a kickback from the phone provider for using them as their one and only service for inmates to place calls. The only way to circumvent the fee is to mail a money order and wait for it to be added to the account. This is just another example of how the families of inmates are used and taken advantage of to gain access to their loved one.

My monthly budget includes $200 towards phone calls, sent via a money order after my bi-monthly paycheck. Most of the time I end up adding more because there is a lapse between those funds being added. It must seem ridiculous to someone not in my situation, hell, it seems ridiculous to me. I do it because we can’t see each other living so far apart, and the phone is one of the best ways to keep us feeling connected and involved in each others lives. I do it because I can afford it right now. I do it because we could easily spend that much as a free-couple on dates and activities. I do it because we have no other option.

First post

I'm in love with him and he's in love with me.
We're 800 miles apart and he's in prison.
This is our life.