Correctional Billing Services Complaint - Can you say monopoly? - Inmate call provider

Posted by yoke on 2009-09-08:

You could always write letters. When my husband was in the military that was the only way we could communicate unless we wanted huge phone bills.

Posted by LadyScot on 2009-09-08:

Alley, be careful. When you say things like that you will be called heartless and a troll and many other names. It is not advisable to speak the truth on these boards. I'm just saying....

PS..my thoughts exactly.

Posted by raven2002 on 2009-09-08:

Yes, folks could write letters. Yes, they could (and SHOULD) stay out of jail.

Those things do not excuse a company from poor behavior.

Posted by yoke on 2009-09-08:

If letter writing is good enough for our military then it is good enough for the law breakers. I have no sympathy for someone in jail and then you get the families that come on here and whine about how expensive it is to call. There are people who do not talk to their loved ones for months at a time because they are out protecting our country. Yes that is there choice, just like it is the lawbreakers choice to break the law and go to jail.

Posted by raven2002 on 2009-09-08:

Yoke, I agree 110%. Nothing wrong with letter writing.


However, how does that excuse this company's poor behavior? I dont care of they charge 5 bucks a second. Calls are a privilege, not a right.

However, they seem to have some very shady/questionable practices based on complaints.

Posted by BokiBean on 2009-09-08:

Indeed, this is a consumer issue, not a justice issue.

Posted by DigitalCommando on 2009-09-08:

Hookers get free cell phones from their pimps so with that in mind, are our fighting men and women not deserving of a free use cellphone from their pimp, Uncle Sammy?
I can bring in unrelated comparisons just as good as any of the above posters have if I'm trying to be creative and bury the real issue at hand with moralistically unrelated extrapolated judgements.

Posted by Eloise on 2009-09-08:

Correctional Billing's web site explains best why the rates are so high.

'The cost of providing operator assisted calling is substantially higher than the cost of providing long distance. These costs include such things as special equipment, equipment maintenance, billing validation, billing and collections, customer service, and other expenses.'

You also need to add the payroll expenses, and taxes that they must pay. Based on this explanation I can see why their rates are high.

Posted by DigitalCommando on 2009-09-08:

Eloise, all good points but when do we ever find good and fair pricing in a monopoly? Since they have NO competition at all, a good part of the over-pricing is related to just that. They are also 'sharing' profits with the prison and we can assume state officials as well since the key to anti-competition is always a well greased government wheel.

Posted by JR in Orlando on 2009-09-08:

Eloise has a good point. Isn't it common for hotels to charge extra for calls from the room because of such expenses. This is the same situation, although the views are less desirable.

This is a lot like a defendant on trial for murdering his parents, claiming he should get mercy because he is an orphan. The criminal gets sent to jail, and then claims his family does not have enough to live when it is he who created the problem. There would not be a loss of half the family income or the need for $0.75 per minute calls but for his criminal acts.

Posted by MRM on 2009-09-08:

AlleyS... long time, no see! Where you been hiding!

Posted by PepperElf on 2009-09-08:

Perhaps the knowledge that they'll be making their loved ones spend half an income on phone calls... perhaps that will be incentive for some potential inmates to stop breaking the law?

Posted by raven2002 on 2009-09-08:

wishful thinking pepper!!

Posted by jktshff1 on 2009-09-08:

Plus, these businesses kick back $$$$ to the system they are working with.
I don't have a problem with that.

Posted by PepperElf on 2009-09-08:

hey it's worth a shot.

tho now i have Jim Carrey in my mind, the line from "Liar Liar"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbOtyWTRZ_g

Posted by raven2002 on 2009-09-08:

O.ooooo No fair Pepper. That's gonna be in my head for days now.

Posted by *Brenda* on 2009-09-08:

Allison you shouldn't take your aggression out on others.

Posted by PepperElf on 2009-09-08:

I though rick said "I'm rich bi***"
or was that dave chapelle...

=)

Posted by *Brenda* on 2009-09-08:

Please excuse my rude sister.(Who doesn't know about Rick James obviously)

Posted by PepperElf on 2009-09-08:

ack you're two people now?

=)

Posted by LadyScot on 2009-09-09:

Victor/Victoria lol.

Posted by PepperElf on 2009-09-09:

O_o i think i remember that movie.

Posted by Eloise on 2009-09-09:

Correctional billing provides all the equipment as well as the repairs. It would be difficult to have a number of companies.

Posted by *Brenda* on 2009-09-09:

Me two people? No, she is my sister though. :-\