Preview Review

Next Review

Global Tel Link Consumer Reviews - Page 2

Most Popular | Newest | More Options >
More filter options:
Poor Service And Customer Care
By -

FORT COVINGTON, NEW YORK -- I have been a customer through MCI and then Global Tel Link for almost ten years. I have always paid my bill and therefore, I have always been granted the additional calls. Well, although MCI was very costly, I always received my calls. Global Tel Link has only sent me one bill in nearly a year. I have had many blocks on my line and I have never been given a straight answer for when my bill is due. I was told "you will have calls taken for late payments, for early payments" (Yes! I paid early and an over payment therefore, I was not granted additional calls!)

How can people use this company when it takes no less than an hour to speak to a person who never can give you a straight answer and the supervisors do not speak to you? I have requested a copy of their policy, but have never seen one. They keep telling me that they know the policy therefore, I have no reason to know it! I have been taken from over twenty calls a month to four because I paid a day early in Dec. and my husband called the day my bill was due. I owed $3.32 and they took all my calls except four them. I was never notified that this was happening!

I called when the block was put on my line and was told that I was irresponsible! I paid when I was told to do so through calling the company for a date my bill was due because I never got a bill. I paid the bill and was told I would have to pay two months on time to increase my plan by three calls per month. I did so for January and Feb. I called on March 1 and was told that I show a credit on my bill and they are not a bank therefore, I cannot increase my calls - I must pay only the amount due on the date it is due. I must wait and pay two more months on time and not over to increase!

I asked for the supervisor only to get another customer service rep. who then tells me that they don't count January because my error occurred in Dec. As a positive payment therefore, I have to wait until the end of April to be considered. I then asked why I have gotten two answers and she told me not to worry, they know the policy and I am not going to get any more calls for at least two months! I am a mother of four and work full-time, my husband is 6 hours away - our calls are what keep us connected because I can't get there often.

How can they justify keeping a family apart like this? I know I am not the only one this has happened to and I know I am not the only one who has spent three hours on the phone begging for our rights to communicate with loved ones. Why can't we find a company that will treat inmate families like any other customers and not like we are deserving of poor treatment and disrespect?

In Nov. customers received a letter stating that they were going to $100 worth of calls a month. Once you reach the $100 limit, you must pay or your line would be blocked. I asked why my line was blocked in Dec. with this new plan. They simply stated that the plan did not go through, but I never received a letter stating that and neither did anyone else I have spoken to.

I think it is time the legal system step in an help the families to be righted for once. I also want to state that when this company took over, I have a credit of $113.00 and moved. I had a new number so they made me send a fax to request a refund. I have called and called and they claimed to have received the fax from June 07, and yet here we are, Feb 08 and still no refund.

They owe me, yet I am being punished! What a joke! We need help from a respectable phone company! I am sorry to go on and on, but this is the only place I have found in hopes of getting my complaint to this company. They don't even have a complaint number! The number you call for customer service just hangs up on you when you complain! Thank you!

Replies
The truth of how this company works - by a real rep
By -

LON ANGELES, CALIFORNIA -- I can't believe you all have time to write such stupid reviews about a company that does not give a penny for you all. I work for Global, I'm in Argentina, and I agree with you, this company IS A PIECE OF... To tell you the truth, I've worked with MCI, they were strict, but fast, and it was easier to get in touch with us, the reps. I truly agree with many customers regarding holding time and also about rudeness, and policies.

Most of the problems we are having is because during the peak hours (around 12:00 pm till 9:00 pm Eastern) we are not so many reps, as we used to be before. The reason for that is that the morning time (7 am to 12 am) is overcrowded, we do not receive so many calls during this time, and most of my peers work during that time, because for many of us, here in Argentina, is better to work during this time. Of course, this means not so many reps working during difficult hours.

In addition to that, customers are more upset than ever, and it is understandable (most of us, who work for this horrible company agree with what I'm saying). There is one more thing. People working in the afternoon are relatively "new" people. The experienced ones either quit or work in the morning. Just a few of us (who provide with the best customer service we CAN provide, not the one we want) know exactly what is going on. Training of new reps, my friends, lasts only a week!!! How on Earth you expect good serious customer service with one week training???

Now, there is more to this. Most of us are students, so we study and work, and that makes the job even harder, since customer, usually right, give us many problems. WE WANT TO HELP, AND WE UNDERSTAND YOU, but sometimes is way too difficult if you either Shout or yell all the time, or if you don't understand what we are trying to explain to you. I'm not saying that the explanation is morally correct, but it is how it is, and you as well as us have to deal with this.

Another important aspect is work conditions in the building. The light is very poor, the computers WAY TOO SLOW, sound is awful, we are afraid of quality evaluations (calls are recorded to verify if what we are telling is correct according to company policies and procedures) cause they're too strict with us, some supervisors (the 2 idiots from the morning) do not help much, and salary, my dears, is lees than poor.

We work for a company named APEX, a Sykes company, which is hired by different companies who want to hire the customer service provided by APEX, and theses companies (such us Global Tel, BMG, Capital One, etc) pay a certain amount of money per hour. GTL pays APEX (who is the company paying us) U$S 10 per hour we work. We work 6 hours and 1/2 per day, 5 days a week, around U$S 1300 per month. We are also paid for calls received (around 0.25 cents per call). You know how much money we earn each month in dollars??? $350 (a rep who is getting a good salary).

So, to sum up, in this long comment I wanted to explain to you that we agree with you, that we are not so different. We are workers, and that here in Argentina although most of us are students, we need the money to help in our homes, or to carry on our lives. That is why we keep on working in this company. I can guarantee, we do not agree with it at all!!! That is why I hope you will write to me, and also that you will understand us better when you call us. It is not our fault, and we really want to help you.

Replies
Inmate Phone System Scam
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

COLVILLE, WASHINGTON -- $50.00 charged to account. If you do not use the account for a 90 day period, your account is canceled and remaining balance is lost with no recourse. This is a government authorized company with a monopoly, so nothing you can do about it - buyer beware!

Replies
Rude
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

I like the automated system. You can make payments and the calls go thru fine but when I tried calling customer service they were extremely unprofessional and rude. Did not want to wait for the information she was asking for. She said her name was Gymbalee. Extremely rude almost like they are not trying to help. She did not even tell me the balance I was transferring. 0 stars for customer service, very poor.

Replies
Advertisement
Still Waiting for REFUND
By -

RESTON, VIRGINIA -- I set up the account so my son could call home from jail - at the time I thought it was the only way. Well in January we gave them our debit card number and continued using this company for two months, to a total of $350.00. The company then changed their policy and we need to pay $100 on an account over the phone which then my son could call home again, so we did.

From Feb. 26,2010 and March 10, 2010 he called six times which left a balance of $81.72. The prison then got a new company and we had to switch (which I might add, this company is very good). On March 13, 2010 I called Global Tel Link to get my account closed and get my refund and the person said no problem, 7-10 days.

Two weeks went by and still no refund in my account. I called back they said, "We need the account number for the refund." I reply, "You have the account number, you have been taking $50 a week for it for the last two months. How can you say you don't have it?" So my husband gave them the account number on his card which has been done before and my account number also. She said she would personally take this to the account and billing herself to see that it got taken care of. Again I waited 7 to 10 days, no refund.

Called again and the man said I need to fax a letter stating I wanted my account closed and the refund to go back into my account. I hung up and did just that. Two weeks later I called and the lady said I had giving her a wrong number. I said, "No and you also have the number in my account and on the fax." She had nothing to say.

Again I gave my account number and said I want my money within two business days, after all Global Tel debits the account in 24 hours. I should not have to wait any longer for what belongs to me. Today May 4th, I still have no refund. So trust me when I say, DON'T use this company no matter how bad you want to talk to your family member.

Replies
VERY COSTLY Collect Call Inmate Charges!! Costing $25 a Day for 2 Calls
By -

I have a family member in jail and I am using Global Tel Link for her collect calls to me. When I first started the account, $25 would get her at least 1-2 calls a day for 3 days. Over the past few weeks, I started added $50 because it takes forever to go through all the instructions to add the money with your credit card. Well, once I started putting $50 on the account, the money went even quicker with her not changing her call routine. It turned into every 3 days, it was another $50.

Well I went back to putting $25 on the phone and yesterday I put $25 on the phone when she called. She called back in the evening and GTL said I had to add MORE money to accept the call. That was $50 in one day for 2 calls. I called GTL today and what they told me was it cost $8.34 for a 20-minute call but the jail only allows 15 minute calls. They charge $9.50 to add $50 and $4.75 to add $25 every time you add money.

I was also told that if an inmate or loved one is trying to call you collect and you don't answer, for instance they call 2-3 times back-to-back, then GTL will hold the money on the account for 5 minutes for each time someone calls and you don't pick up. So if you happen to pick up on the 3rd call then the GTL message will say "you have a collect call and need to add money to accept." This to me is very very hard to keep track of and it has now turned into every time I get a call from my family member, I am adding money even though my family member has started calling only 2-3 times a week now.

This entire operation really is a rip-off. I still have no idea why I am being charged $8.34 per 20-minute call when inmates have a 15-minute limit. If anyone knows a company to use for collect inmate calls, please let me know.

Replies
Global Tel Link Is A P.O.S. Company
By -

I add $25 every week to my cell phone to speak with a friend that is an inmate. With that $25 dollars, 5 goes to a service charge of some sort and the other $20 gets us 3 phone calls of 15 minutes each. As if that's not already ridiculous enough. We were on our last phone call today when he called me and about 6 minutes into the phone call, the spokesman for the company comes on and says that the call is being disconnected for use of three-way calling. And then when my friend calls back there, were only two dollars remaining and that got us just a little over 1 minute of talking.

I have no idea on how to use three-way calling and I already know if I were to ever try that, it would not work and the phone would shut off. So I called the company and it has a policy of 'if you have a cell phone problem and the call is lost, then no money will be refunded'. And yes I understand and agree that if your cell phone loses service or goes dead, then no you shouldn't get any money refunded. But in my situation it was the company's fault for the phone call being dropped. Not my phones at all.

So I wanted a refund and after having this guy tell me 100 times there is no way since I was using a cell phone to get my money refunded, so I told him in the politest way that I would like to speak with someone higher up. And after repeatedly asking, that he did. When he finally transferred me, it was to a lady and again I spoke with respect and explained my situation. And she started to "explain" that no refunds were allowed to be given. I said, "even though it was your company's fault?", and then she proceeded to yell at me and tell me it was rude that she let me speak and then interrupted her.

So I let her speak. Then she put me on hold after being a total witch about things for about 8 minutes and answered the phone again and said, "sorry about the hold, was there anything else I could help you with?" I let her know she helped me with nothing and used another arrangement of names that I can't say on this complain but I'm sure you know what they are. I am looking for another company to use and I would NOT recommend this P.O.S. company to ANYONE!!

Replies
Lies are Lies Whoever Tells Them
By -

OKLAHOMA -- I recently received a call from Global Tel Link, only for GTL to tell me it was blocked. I researched the problem, and I realized that GLT is not truthful. I believe they think that they are dealing with "the lowest of the low" so what they say to us as consumers should be taken as the truth. After my phone was blocked, I called GTL, and they told me that Windstream, my telephone provider rejected the calls and to deal with ILD the people who bill the calls.

ILD told me that GTL is the one who put the block on the phone. I called GTL after the claim that Windstream rejected the charges, and they told me I was one of their best customers, and they did not block any calls. By the way, I talked with the management. When I went back to GTL with **'s (Windstream) report, GTL went to a different story: I had accepted over $200 in phone calls from the correctional facility. When that statement was discredited by ** at GTL (unbeknownst to the management, ** (GTL) told me I would have to set up a prepaid account).

All of those lies were told to me so that I would set up a prepaid account for which they charge a 25% fee. GTL is untruthful, and the honest sector of the country cannot deal with lies. GTL makes up stories as they go, hoping that no one with verify their statements. When they are cornered in their lies, they still lie and say because we put a block on your phone for nonpayment, you must set up a prepaid account. No wonder GTL has an "F" grade with the Better Business Bureau.

I am writing to my state's Department of Corrections to see if they will rein in GTL. We all should do the same. If the prisons offer phone service, then it should be service. Letters have always been an option, but if there is going to be service, then there should be service--no scams.

Replies
Advertisement
All I Can Say Is Wow!
By -

I have been dealing with Global Tel Link for a little over a year. I have paid their high phone rates and have never been blocked not once until a week ago. I always pay on-time because as we all know the phone is a vital contact especially when your loved one is far away. Last week they called me and told me they cannot bill through the phone company anymore and I would have to fax a copy of my phone bill to them and it would take 3-5 business days to process.

Today is my 7th day being blocked and still the fax has not been processed. Theie customer service representative told me that I need to learn patience. I thought that was extremely rude since they told me 3-5 business days, not 5-7 days, not 7-10 days. I was told not to call back until Friday...and all of this time I am trying to sort out the problem. She tells me this process happens within the first 2 days of them going to a prison and I told her that was BS because my husband has been in prison for 2 months now. I asked her if there was a way to even check and see if they received the fax and she told me if I wanted to track it, that would take an additional 5 days.

I am sorry but I feel that it is wrong. How they are handling customers who actually have been good and pay when they are supposed to? I work a 2nd job just to pay these people every single week. I agree with everyone else on here, there is no need to punish the civilians who are trying to do the right thing just because one of their loved ones messed up and is incarcerated.

We are being treated horribly and I am sorry, but I get told they service over 1,000 prison facilities all over the USA and this is why it takes so long. Well if that is the case, then you need to hire more people then what you have working for you. I am in retail management and if myself or one of my workers EVER treated a paying customer like how I have been treated for the past week, we would be written up and then fired if it persisted.

If you are going to give high phone rates, at least make your customer service department a little more pleasant to deal with. We the consumers are not mean, we just want better service, especially when we are shelling out a lot of money to you.

Replies
Global Tel Link Is A Rip Off
By -

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA -- Global Tel Link is the service used by Los Angeles County Jail System, so you can receive collect calls from a person incarcerated in county jail. The phone number I have for them is 800*483*8314 (this is an automated system).

They charged my credit card so I could establish an advance pay account which allows me to accept collect calls made from County Jail. Over the past 4 days I have deposited $125.00 with them, which covered 8 calls all less than 5 minutes in length. I deposited another $25.00 yesterday, and received a $14.00 credit towards phone time. The additional $11.00 is their "Service Charge". When you do the math, that comes out to an approx. 73% service charge. HOW IS THIS EVEN LEGAL??

Calls are continually dropped for no reason, yet they refuse to credit back any money for dropped calls. Talking to Customer Service is impossible, as they just never come to the phone. I have waited well in excess of 2 hours and still not spoken to anyone. Each 2-3 minute call (calls are within the local calling area) costs on average $10.00. How can that be right?

You do not have the choice to use any other type of collect call billing. So the only choice that families of loved ones who are incarcerated in Los Angeles County Jail have is to either accept this company ripping us off or not be able to communicate with any one who is incarcerated.

I would appreciate someone letting me know if: (1) Is this company not governed by any State Agency? (2) Is it legal for them to charge such outrageous fees? (3) Is the State of California investigating this company for illegal business practices? I have filed a complaint with the BBB, the CPUC, and the Federal Trade commission. It seems funny to me that an agency serving a county facility is allowed to continue to rip off consumers.

Replies
Top of Page | Next Page >

Global Tel Link Rating:
Star Half star Empty star Empty star Empty star
1.3 out of 5, based on 13 ratings and
105 reviews & complaints.
Contact Information:
Global Tel Link
12021 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 100
Reston, VA 20190
1-866-230-7761 (ph)
www.gtl.net
Compare Phone/Mobile Services