Correctional Billing Services Complaint - Rip off - this is a rip off billing service for inmate

Posted by Alain on 2010-07-26:

You can communicate directly with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice about this for arbitration via ombudsman@tdcj.state.tx.us or call their general phone number for advice on how to address this problem at 512-475-3250.

Posted by 3mmy_23 on 2010-08-04:

I can agree that you feel you are "being stolen from". Truth be told I actually work for CBS. The job in itself sucks because the company is so strict about the info they give out,if you don't ask,we don't tell. So to fill in these empty gaps for you:

The reason the rates are so high just depends on where the facility is. Think about it this way,if you live in Rhode Island and you're trying to receive calls from California,don't you think those call rates would be hella expensive? And yeah you could live right next door to the facility,but all in all its just the "partners" that we are doing business with that have the final say. And I won't mention all of them bc the list is never ending. But I can say that putting them out of business isn't a likely conclusion. Simply bc it won't ever happen. People break the law,and go to jail. Then they call us...
And thats where the hell begins. If people understood more of why things are the way they are maybe I wouldn't have to recieve calls from customers that curse me out,call me a whore,and tell me to get a real job. The job is very real,and very crummy. And I myself am probably the nicest customer service agent I could possibly be. But people just don't care. They'd rather complain about what they don't have rather than what they do. Which all in all is the ability to talk to their loved one. Isn't that the gist of our business. They'res just a million and one business rules that we have that we aren't allowed to really say.

People should just be more patient. Bc acting a fool and being an ass on the phone won't get you anywhere with this company. We are only permitted to say the facts. Not these "business rules". So people,in return,hate us and think we're a scam. Because they just simply don't understand these "business rules"

People should just appreciate the fact that they even get to talk to their loved one. Regardless of the fee. Its better than calling collect :)

Hopefully I summed this all up and maybe now you can put yourself in my shoes and realize that the job blows. Gotta put bread on the table though ;)
So next time you call,just be super nice because then we respond more positively and you will in the end receive a better customer satisfaction.

Posted by jktshff1 on 2010-08-04:

I appreciate the fact that CBS and others like them must have a contract and contribute to the upkeep of the incarcerated. Helps on my tax $$$$.
Write a letter.

Posted by veronica14 on 2010-10-07:

3mmy 23 I would LOVE to be able to talk to a customer service agent like your self. Anything but a robot would be WONDERFUL... if you could give me the number to the customer service agency... or any number other than the 1-800 number that is only an operator, I would really appreciate it. thanks.

Posted by littlelolita on 2010-12-05:

i work there too, nice to see a fellow co-worker posting (anonymous as always) yes, please treat us nice. Even though the above CBS rep said how they were nice, i am nice as well. but the nicer you are, the better customer service you will get and the more information and help you will get helping you with your account and any further questions you have with your account... because we arent a scam, and we arent ripping you off. we are just the only company that services that one facility your loved one is in. there is nothing we can do about that. we are sad that we have to take your calls because we know you are sad. these are hard calls to take when you are crying cause we feel bad and it sucks for us when you are screaming into our headsets. so after 3129038 calls, we know all the scenarios they are all different but our hearts go out to you, and we arent really heartless or scam artists. we just need jobs, just like you need to speak to your loved one.