Preview Review

Next Review

Correctional Billing Services Consumer Reviews - Page 2

Most Popular | Newest | More Options >
More filter options:
Collect Calls
By -

ORISKANY, NEW YORK -- I've been receiving collect calls for the last 4 months from my husband. Then all of a sudden this service put a block on my phone claiming that I had exceeded my limit. When I called their toll free number they put me on hold until they verified my telephone number and then had the nerve to tell me that I had entered into a contract with them. When you listen to the recording before you accept the call, it does not state that you are entering a contract nor does it tell you how much per minute your call will be.

Additionally, I had no idea that they gave me a credit limit or had the ability to put a block on my phone. I was sooo pissed I cursed out the customer service representative because I felt violated that these people had the nerve to enter me into a contract blindly without issuing any terms or conditions and secondly, who the hell do they think there are putting a block on my phone without checking with my home service to see if I paid my bill. Once they checked with my home service they realized that my phone bills were all paid and current. They were very hasty to put a block on my phone before checking with my home service to see if I paid my bill.

It's a shame that their company needed me to call in order for them to verify that I paid my phone bills. Furthermore, who do they think they are charging excessive rates per minute just because the person is incarcerated! I believe that the Better Business Bureau should investigate the excessive rates that this company is charging for collect calls from jails. Especially when we do not have to pay that amount for regular collect calls. The rates are so high I think that I am accepting calls from someone in Jamaica!

Replies
Unsatisfactory BBB Record
By -

While "Correctional Billing Services" in Selma has a satisfactory BBB record, "Evercom Systems" and DBA "Correctional Billing Services" in Irving has an unsatisfactory record. I am beginning to see why. My gripes/issues: 1) They advise to go to a non-existent web-site "www.correctionalbillingservices.com," and won't answer an inquiry as to why they do this. 2) They request one call during "non-peak hours," but don't say when those are. Also, it seems I get this message no matter the day or time of day I call. 3) Cut one off at 9:00pm, even though one has been on hold for 20 minutes. 4) I do not understand why it takes 24 to 48 hours to post a payment to a prepay account.

Replies
Highway Robbery!
By -

MICHIGAN -- Talk about the fleecing of America! Correctional Billing charges me $17.34 for one 15-minute phone call from Michigan to Colorado. That is a whopping $1.16 per minute. I can only accept $50 worth of phone calls in a 24-hour period or my line is restricted and so everything that needs to be discussed between myself and my significant other must happen in 30 minutes or less. I am 2000 miles away from him so visits are impossible. Snail mail is also unsatisfactory at times (even though we write every day) as it takes him 5 days and longer to receive my mail and sometimes up to 5 days for me to receive his.

I have had several occasions where I have had to talk with customer "service" regarding the status of my account. Their billing system makes absolutely no sense and every time I call, I receive a different answer to the same question from each new person I speak with. I have attempted on numerous occasions to escalate my problem from the 1st point of contact person to a supervisor/manager and each time am told that there is no manager available nor does anyone have a direction extension and they are not forthcoming with information on how to file a complaint.

I am not allowed to have a 3-way call between my local phone carrier (the billing agent) and Correctional Billing (according to Correctional Billing) so any time there is an issue with the amount I have paid, I have to call my phone company, back to Correctional Billing, then back to my phone company etc ad nauseam. I have wasted hours of time on hold just trying to get a small question answered or a problem resolved. This company is the worst I have ever had to deal with. They charge exorbitant rates, are rude and disrespectful and have no regard for their consumer.

I understand inmate communication via telephone is a privilege not a right. However, I am not an inmate. I do not appreciate being treated as though I am, nor do I find it amusing that every time I accept a phone call - a phone call that I need more than he does - I pay to keep him incarcerated.

Replies
Who is allowing this company do business?
By -

I opened an account with this company about 6 months ago and had nothing but problems with this company. There were problems with the online services, the phone system, the chat option, and I couldn't even use my credit card to make a payment. I had to speak with a supervisor who didn't even resolve my issue. I was told to call BillMatrix. As a customer why should I have to call your company's processing provider? But I did because as you know if we want to talk to our loved ones we don't have a choice but to use this company, and it is very apparent that that is why there is no help or support for the customers.

The processing company said they didn't refuse my payment, "call CBS back". So I call back. They say call them or my financial institution. I do both nothing is resolved. No one can figure out the problem nor did they try. I closed my account a few months ago because of how frustrated I was with this company. Now I re-opened my account and it;s even worse. I still cannot use my credit card, make a payment online, get through to a human being through your "customer service" number.

This is the worst customer service I have ever experienced. There is no empathy or service for that matter from anyone at this company. I would hope they care about their company and customers, even though we have to use their service every business person knows you don't have a service without customers. I have been hung up on when I was supposed to be transferred. On the chat option they gave me the wrong phone number and then disconnected me. UNBELIEVABLE.

This is the only company I can used to talk to my fiance and I haven't talked to him in 5 months because of this company. Worst service ever. I don't understand how this is even legal. Send all your complaints to the Better Business Bureau.

Replies
Advertisement
Waited 2 Months For Papers
By -

P.O.BOX 650757 -- I was last on here. Talking to you about drop calls and when they drop, you still are paying for them. You will see them on your bill but will not see the drop or disconnect error on your bill. I'm just now getting a paper from Correctional Billing Service, to let them know when the phone calls where drop, but the key is this. Talk to your love one and max how many call he can do, if the drop call never hit you, you've been lucky, but if they have, please take the time out and call, talk to Mr. ** or Ms. **, supervisor and manager. I had to call several times so when and if I continue them to court, on small claim, it will be in the books or records.

Now to say all this make a list of times of drop calls, time and date. When you call and report it ask for ID # and name, time you talk to them (US military time), they go by that real good and then write the 800 or 877 #. You call to and from home or cell. For example I allowed my husband to call home 7 time in a month, that's twice a week or however he uses it. It's to be 7 times at 6.49 for 15 minutes plus a 1$ some odd change more for taxes. Huh????

Yes, it is, here the kicker. You get your bill and see all these phone call accepted, but you don't see the drop calls. False! You do see the drop call, only you are being charged for them, so if they have to send you a paper as they did me to get my permission to listen to our conversations?????? Just to get accurate, I find that a problem they are not accurate on our bills, you never can get past Mr. ** or Ms. ** but I found a way. Call BBB and you will get the CEO of this. I have information, I will blog it next time sorry it not with me, remember you are still being charged even if the phone is hung up from a drop call. Time is still ticking.

Replies
Extortion, Monopoly, and unfair rules to make more money
By -

I am writing this review to see if there has been anyone to actually DO something about CBS taking advantage of families already in despair. I'd love to know if anyone has been successful in getting something done about this company.

Since this IS a review board, I'll go ahead with a short review. I have a long list of complaints, but I'll just give the most recent. I have VOIP phone service (OOMA), and I am able to purchase a local number through OOMA to where my sister is incarcerated. This worked fine for quite some time, as it is $3 each time she calls. This is still expensive two-three times each week, but it is bearable.

I'm not sure how my account looks different on their end, but they somehow knew I used OOMA. They said your phone company uses "call forwarding", so I can't use it. They suggested I get a new phone company or one of their new cell phones.

I will say that the customer service reps have been much more polite over the last 6 months, so I gather there have been some changes there. However polite, they were not very helpful in this case. I asked to speak to a supervisor. He told me how my phone company offers a "security risk", because they can't tell who the call is coming from. I told them that my name appears on the caller ID, and that my address is on the account like any phone. The only difference is that it is local, and I live an hour away.

He THEN told me that they don't make enough money doing it that way, and that that my phone number would be permanently blocked. He said I'll have to get a new number, but that would probably be blocked too. He said I'll have to switch phone companies or use their new cellular service.

When you play by their CRAZY rules and hoops for years, and it comes down to them just wanting more money, I believe this is sickening! I HATE when people are bullied, especially people who are already down and taking a major hit. I could go on with other instances, but I'll spare you for now. If anyone has useful information about what rights we have an what we can do about these unfair practices, please let me know.

Replies
Something Needs to Be Done!!!
By -

I paid for collect calls. During many phone calls I had dropped call after dropped call. I had to call in and ask for credit for everyone of them. They would only give me credit if the phone call was immediately returned. On 3-30-08 at 8:04 pm (duration of phone call 11 mins) and on 3-30-2008 at 1:47 pm (duration of phone call 15 mins) there was repeated distortion on the line. I could not carry on a conversation due to this distortion. I stayed on the line hoping it would stop. When I called the company regarding this issue, they said "yes we are experiencing problems right now". When I asked for a credit they told me to fax in a dispute. It took me five times to finally get the fax to work.

I gave them one week and called back then they told me they didn't receive my fax. They agreed to email their main office for me in regards to this. They told me it would take two weeks. On April 29th I had to call back in for other dropped calls and I asked about the calls from 3-30-2008. She said the investigation was complete and I would be receiving a full credit for both phone calls but to allow 24 hours for them to post.

On April 30th I called back when that had not posted. I was told they were busy dealing with other technical issues that day and to call tomorrow. When I called on May 1st they informed me that now their investigation showed that there was no issues with the calls and since I stayed on the line hoping it would stop I was responsible for the calls and that no credit would be issued. I explained that I didn't receive the services for which I paid and they said there was nothing they could do.

Replies
We Must Start To Organize!!!
By -

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA -- It really doesn't matter what they did to me it's the same thing they do to all of us. Rip us off and make mistakes that cause us not only anger and frustration but some of us deep depression and anxiety day to day. Why are they doing this? Cause they can simple as that. And if we don't try to stop this practice it will go on and on. More abuse and discrimination for future people that haven't got a clue what's in store for them when they try to connect with another human being that needs to hear a friendly voice.

Just because we want to talk to someone in jail does not mean we have to receive such poor expensive service and when we complain there is no one even accountable and they don't give a diddly anyway. They allow the reps to talk in a disrespectable, condescending, morally abusive way. This poor type of employee has to be because they pay poor wages and don't have any quality assurance practices in place cause guess what... they have a monopoly. You have no choice and they know it and it means more money in the pocket of the owners to hire ignorant low wage workers.

Now those of you who work for CBS will be all up in arms and try to blame us the customers and that just confirms that you don't really hear what is in this website. The mistakes you have made that causes us great pain and even defeat and that you allowed to continue to do this. If you're reading this you've come to this site to report outrageous mistakes and you believe someone cares. This company doesn't care but all of us care and we must do something. The problem is we are not united. I read over and over about joining a class action suit but no one takes the ball.

We need to start a website that we can talk to each other and unite and form a plan. There are a lot of things we can do if we unite. You know in your being this bloated corrupt practice has to stop. I admit I am computer skills lacking and I don't know how to start a website. This site is not very helpful cause we can't unite.

We are human beings and should expect to be treated fairly not made to feel exploited and responsible for substandard treatment because we want to talk to a human behind bars. I think if we could unite and we have some numbers we can all write, call, email different people, places to start to bring down this Goliath and expose this corruption. It's been done before.

Replies
Advertisement
... all the negative complaints
By -

I had never had a problem with this company. I've been using them for several years since there is no choice. My son is incarcerated, therefore, I am in the mercy of this company. But either billing through my local phone company for years, or most recently, I've set up a cell phone account, my bills and usage are always correct and accurate!

I like the latter system better. My son can now call me anytime, anywhere and cheaper by $2. It's convenient and portable. I prepay any amount I want, plus $6.95 one-time load fee. My son can call my cell phone anytime, anywhere I'm at until the amount I loaded into the account is gone. At that point, I can re-load money into the account again. To keep from paying too many load fees, start out, say, $100. The more money you load into the account, the less you have to pay the load fee since it is charged each time you load money into the account.

I've talked to their customer service a few times, everyone had been nice and helpful to me. I think people that have problems with them may not have treated them as humans. Don't forget that they are humans too and treat them with respect to get their respect. Talk to them kindly and I bet you'll get what you want.

Replies
Top of Page | Next Page >

Correctional Billing Services Rating:
65 reviews & complaints.
Contact Information:
Correctional Billing Services
PO Box 650757
Dallas, TX 75265-0757
1-800-844-6591 (ph)
www.securustech.net
customer_service@correctionalbillingservices.com
Compare Financial Services