GTL Reviews

Had no problems at first (except prices), but other than that fine. After 3 months now all of a sudden when I press 0 to accept it doesn't acknowledge it. Switched phones still same problem. And they won't refund my $. Thieves-- Global is!

I along with others have been experiencing issues accepting the calls from the jail my husband is in. It say press 0 to accept the call & the system doesn't recognize that 0 is being pressed. I have $15 on the phone & unable to use it. I called customer service 4 times they said you're using a cell phone so it's at your own risk. I ask to speak to a manager they hung up on me. Worse phone service ever. Our daughter is sick. I had to go up to the jail to inform him vs just accept a call. I guess they're not going to fix the problem. My next step is asking for a refund which I highly doubt I'll get.

If I could give them zero or negative stars, I most definitely would. I got the pleasure of setting up an account with GTL through offenderconnect.com due to a family member in county jail - the minimum amount for phone acct is $25 including fee. The fee was $3.75 which left $21.25 for calls. I got 2 calls out of that money. Each call cost me $9.74!!! Are you ** serious?? Then 2 calls total only adds up to $19.48 but my acct says $0.00. Where's my other $1.77?? It just disappeared. Let me guess, it goes to "other fees"?? This should be illegal, but dealing with anything where the government is even slightly involved, I expect it now. Being the only option to add money to phone accts for your incarcerated loved ones, I guess I'll go back to the day and age of snail mail. Screw this "trusted" company.

I am speaking for myself and other families of inmates incarcerated who are forced to pay the high rates that Global Tel Link charges for phone calls received by their loved ones. As a wife of an inmate who has been incarcerated for 2 years, I am already struggling to survive on one income alone. I am trying to keep my marriage together and therefore know the importance of phone calls from my husband. It is most important for his rehabilitation to communicate with his family. The outrageous charges from GTL should be illegal! So many families are in poverty because of the struggles of loved ones incarcerated. GTL has taken advantage of families who need to speak to their loved ones. Why is this being allowed to happen to us?

I pushed the buttons to block one specific inmate that called me, and it block all of scdoc! It had been over a month since I've talked to my friends or mom that are incarcerated in scdoc because Global Tel*Link can't seem to take the block off but yet they can accept my payment at the click of a damn button. I have called over and over, I have sent emails I get the same ** run around every time! They say they are handing it over to the upper department and then one guy said the block has been removed already... not true! This is the only time I've ever had any problems with this company, but I'm about done with it.

I admit I made a mistakes. Was supposed to add money to jpay account instead of offender connect. 60.00 to phone? Instead of service person listening to me, instead she continued to cut me off. 20 mins of rudeness and unprofessionalness. She tells me it’s No way to get my money back cause it’s the inmate money. Wtf? I used my credit card not the inmate’s credit card.

On Feb 23, 2015 around 10:51 am. I walk in a locating Weston Union locating adding $20.00 Plus 10.95 fee. Total about paid 30.95 to added minutes on my phone for an inmate at Collier County Jail located Naples Fl. As incoming call coming in from the inmate at Collier County Jail unable to answer the call. I thought I may click on the wrong option. I received an second call and still unable to answer the call. So, I called customer service and spoke to rep and they stated it takes 4 to 24 hours for the mobile device to retrieve payment. 24 hours later... still unable to answer the calls.

I'm so upset. I put money on a prepaid account with GTL so my BF can call me from the county. The payment went through but I still can't accept his calls. I called the customer service number for GTL numerous times & it took me a long time to speak to someone because of their automated system. The people from the customer service are so rude, they don't help you with anything. I'm so sad because my BF keeps calling and there is nothing I can do to accept the call. Now at this time, I just want my MONEY BACK!!! And these people are still giving me problems... Is there anything I can do about this? I feel like they are taking advantage of people at this vulnerable period of time... Someone PLEASE help me!!!

Global Tel-Link is the most unprofessional business I have ever dealt with. The employees are very RUDE, considering what you're already going through with your loved ones. They don't know their job information, and will not hesitate hanging up on you. I get different stories or lies from each of them I talk to. They are the worst company EVER....I think they are rip offs, and they also have false advertisements on their websites, about plans they supposedly have, that they DON'T All!!!!!!!!!!

I received calls to set up the account by phone. I did. I have putting money on the account three different times (or more) in less than 2 months, yet half of those calls dropped. The account is blocked, and yet I have spoken with three different GTL customer reps, yet the account is still blocked. I never put a block on it. I have not been able to speak to my son in over a month. Ripped off by this phone system. This is illegal.

I made a payment to my phone to receive calls from an inmate but it was the wrong facility and the new facility was not accepted by Global Tel Link. I requested my money back and they are charging me a fee. That's not fair. I should receive full credit.

I put $25 on a gtl account using my credit card. On the first call I received the automated message said press 9 for rate fees. I did, it said $2.50 per call. I had 5 total phone calls of which 2 were dropped. I contacted gtl 4 times because they kept hanging up when I asked for an answer of what I was charged and they finally on fourth call told me I had 3 full calls at 14 minutes each and 2 dropped calls. One for 1 second and another dropped after 45 seconds.

I spent 75 dollars for a total talk time with my daughter for a total of 30 minutes in phone calls....and they call the inmates’ criminals. That should be illegal.

GTL blocked the phone so my son can't call. They refused to return my money and refused to unblock the phone. I am suffering extreme emotional pain because I am not allowed to speak to my son.

I try so hard to get to talk to my fiancee, but I can't cause I have no credit card. Is it that hard to put a feature to where the payments forward to your bill like a NORMAL collect call, or are they going to really sit there and force people into the state in which I am in through saying "talk to loved ones" then rejecting people due to social status. I wanna make terroristic threats towards them in a foul manner it's that bad. Not everyone is perfect and not everyone smart. Not everyone can be like the people who created it. So they need to realize to make it so it can be easier for those of us who can do what they could.

I signed up on 1/16/2015 on a promotional special of $20 per month and free activation. I was suppose to receive an email within 2 hours or call the hotline. No hotline number was ever provided. Paperwork also said if we do not respond to email an activations representative will contact me within 4 to 24 hours. Never got an email or a voicemail. There is no number at all on my receipt.

#2. Has to wait 60 days to get my money back of a telephone account that I closed. The charges are too high, but they know we have to communicate with our love one so they take a lot of advantage of the situation.

Your site does not work AT ALL!!! It won't let you choose facility!!!

My son is incarcerated in the New York penal system and is housed in separate instate locations. In order to provide a means of communicating in a more cost effective manner, I got a local phone number for one of the area (Albany) where he is sometimes housed. GTL will not allow me to use this access number, as it is much cheaper to connect via this number. In trying to access my account they have repeatedly block this number, and have tried to prompt me to provide my personal information (credit/debit card) to their customer service representative.

Awaiting refund now for over 6 months. Have made numerous phone calls. Employees are very rude. I do this as a favor to a neighbor who only speaks Spanish and currently has a son incarcerated. The company is quick to take funds from account but put back 6 months later still waiting.

After reading a surmountable number of complaints regarding the same issue, I have to wonder if Consumer Affairs or any other governmental agency has the power or cares to investigate and bring this matter to a halt. The penal system appears to be established to also punish (financially) those family members, friends, and others that have not committed any crimes and are merely attempting to encourage and/or support inmates.

After thoroughly reading leaflet and literature provided to the local jail where I had just visited a female friend of mine, I was still leery of hidden fees (I've heard horror stories). Well I'm on temporary assignment here in Tucson, Arizona from San Diego, California. I called the number on pamphlet and when I gave them my SD phone number was giving a rate of .22c a minute versus a flat price of $2.25 if I had a local number. I asked about other, or miscellaneous associated fees, peek on or off hours for a discount. I was specifically told those are the only two numbers I would be working with.

12/25/14 Merry Christmas to me. I was able to speak to my incarcerated loved one for 27 min when all funds were depleted from my landline account set up with Global Tel Link. The minimum amount of money you can place on the account to speak to the person incarcerated is $25-GTL takes $6 for admin. Fees. Still that leaves $19 to talk. One phone call placed to me should not cost $19 when the prison is 45 min from my house within the same state (NJ). I used to be able to get at least 4 calls from the $25 I put on the acct. but all of a sudden when I put $25 in the acct. we only spoke once and the funds are depleted. This happened twice. I paid $50 for those 2 calls. When I called GTL they said I am not the acct holder and the name on acct. is someone else so they will not help me. Funny b/c that telephone # has been mine for 17 years. GTL runs the show for the prison phones, there is nothing that they will do to correct their mistakes. They can scam us b/c there is no one to compete with them or threaten their business.

Have used the service 4 yrs and never had a problem. Once GTL took over for vconnect they dropped 5 calls on us, saying we attempted 3 way calls. Even after they listened to the calls and verified it was just background noise they still refused to give me my money back.

4 payments, 19 calls all dropped, no refund!!! Here, go get em! I did! Global Tel Link Corporation: here's your man! Brian Oliver, Chief Executive Officer, Global Tel Link Corporation 2609 Cameron St Mobile, AL 36607 Phone: (251) 479-4500 Web: Globaltellink.com. Consider a cc to all correspondence, same address; (2nd copy Addressed to Their attorney) David Silverman, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Global Tel*Link Corporation Washington D.C. Metro Area Telecommunications

Global Tel*Link is not updating their phone systems within the Federal Prisons so Inmates are paying 21 cents per minute when they should be paying 6 cents. I contacted my provider and they told me they had called support at Global Tel*Link twice and had been assured that it had been corrected but for my family member, they would have to file a complaint with the prison. My family member contacted me today to tell me they were still get charged 21 cents per minute. My phone provider YLC communications has been so good about helping. They have even offered to change my local number at no charge so that my family member does not get charged 21 cents. I recommend YLC communications.

Today 12/12/14 7:25 pm I called GTL customer service and they answered quickly which was great but however I told them that I have 2 disconnected calls from your network and the dropped calls did not come from my cellphone provider because I have all my signal bars. The representative said that it's nothing we can do for you because it's not a landline. So I said that is ludicrous and is this one of your legal scams not to reimburse people after you guys disconnect my calls and plus there are other inmate families complaining too. It's sad that they want to make people keep spending their money faster so they disconnect your call and interrupt and say no three way call when there's no three way call happening.

My friend is incarcerated and I add money to my account once a month to speak to him. We speak at least twice a day and it used to be ok-affordable but it's still pricey. I understand that there are other people who pay a bigger ridiculous bill just for a 20 minute call, but this is why I am here and upset. I am upset for those unfortunate people and people like me who don't have a steady job, living in NYC, going to college and just want to speak to a close friend daily.

My son has been calling my mom since his incarceration which was over 2 years ago. She has a landline, so he just calls collect. Yesterday my son tried to call and upon my mom answering, there was an immediate message that she would need to open an account to be able to accept the call. Fuming I called Global's idiotic half-breed, incompetent customer service and the gal explained that they have always done things the same, that regardless of a landline or not, my mom would have to set up an account and prepay for minutes in order to speak with my son. When I stated that we've NEVER had to do this before, she said, "Well she's lucky then, after a short time, they, (Global), does require an account if your son has called her, even for landline." WTF????

This company is absolutely the worst company I've ever dealt with! I have a family member who is in jail and I went and made a prepaid deposit so this family member could call the house! I set it up to where she could call the house phone seeing as I thought that would be the fastest way. Well I was wrong I've had money, MIND YOU MY MONEY on the account for a month in a half and she still can't get through, I've called global telelinks numerous times and their customer service reps are SO DISRESPECTFUL so I asked if I could get the money refunded back to my debit card since she couldn't call from the detention facility she's at and they had the nerve to tell me I had to write a letter!!!! Well I didn't have to write a letter when they got my money.. so after all that my family member still can't get through and I still have money on the account. I'm sending A WARNING: DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS COMPANY. Not only do they give you the runaround but in my honest opinion I THINK THEY STOLE IT. BEWARE!!

The call was dropped while setting up the service. I deposited $25 for calls, immediately about $18 was available. Once I had it set up 2 more calls were dropped. I am calling each time and keeping a record. They charge $5 to refund your money!

I tried to use this company and used my credit/debit card over the phone to be able to accept collect calls from my family member who is in jail. They keep taking out of my account but I still cannot accept collect calls from inmates from my phone. I think it's not right they take money off your account from using credit/debit cards plus charge a fee but won't allow the phone calls to go through and have a computerize machine to tell you you do not have the funds. The jail limits either $25.00 or $50.00 for the calls and it's coming off my bank account but getting ripped off. I still cannot accept calls. There's no order number I get by phone.

The fees charged by this joke of a company are outrageous; especially when they are compared to the quality of the telephone connection. Why, in this technologically advanced time, is it so horribly difficult to have a solid and clear connection... FROM A LANDLINE. A landline is the most basic type of phone connection and yet this company cannot seem to simply provide a solid and clear connection. Generally when a company charges premium rates, the service reflects the obnoxiously high fees. Global Tel*Link has to be one of the biggest jokes that ever considered themselves an actual business. Either have the service reflect the fees or have the fees reflect the service. This is not a hard concept to grasp.

My fiance (who is my kid's father) was incarcerated last week. I set up my account so he could call the kids with my last $25. He called one time before today and when he tried to call today we got disconnected twice. I was charged the connection fee for both calls but never even got to speak to him. When I called GTL to get a refund for the 2 disconnected calls they refused to do it because I got a cell phone. Even though it was a problem with the phone at the jail. He did get through on the 3rd call so in a matter of 2 days my balance went from $25 to $0.76 all because of the 2 disconnected calls. Now my kids won't be able to speak to their dad on Thanksgiving. Thanks GTL for ripping us off of our hard earned money.

Added $30 to my phone number 18 days ago. The $7.95 fee (! ) was taken out right away. But when the inmate tried to make a call, no funds were available. I called the number that is listed on their website for the website support, but was told that the phone support does not have any means to communicate with the website support. The only way to contact the website support is through email. I had tried that a long time ago (6+ months), but never got a response. Tried it again about 2 weeks ago and didn't get a response either. When asking the people on the phone about this I was told, "Sorry, but that's the way it is", meaning that I was out of luck.

Too often while talking on the call that has come through on Global Tel Link the phone will just disconnect, leaving the person to have to call back and start over paying the initial connect fee of over 21/2 dollars. The other day our phone call was disconnected for what I heard the was supposedly a 3 way call which was totally false. And our phone call was disconnected. And what's worse if I'm not mistaking, you cannot receive another phone call for about 24 hours. It's utterly ridiculous!!!! I realize that the people who are in these facilities have broken the law to some degree some way worse than others. However their family including children, parents, spouses and friends, mentors and alike are not the law breakers. Yet it is these individuals that are being sapped of their money by these greedy opportunist who are allowed to do it because the jails and the Government has no empathy, or respect for anyone. It's as if they blame the family members and friends for having a person who has broken the law related to them.

I have read all the complaints on GTL. There is one simple resolution. Instead of using prepaid account, simply send the inmate the money and they can put the money on the phone from their end. It also eliminates the service fee GTL charges. This can be done anywhere in the country. I receive calls from a facility in NJ. The charge is 15 cents per minute for a 15-minute call, which with tax comes to 2.59 per call. I had 2.21 left on account and when someone called it said insufficient funds. The 2.21 I had should have at least been sufficient for a 10-minute call plus tax. GTL claims I needed a balance of 2.59 in order to receive a call. They are a ripoff!!! SEND THE INMATE THE MONEY!!

I am not at all satisfied with this service. How does it just from $40 to only $5.23 on a 30 minute clip? This is absolutely ridiculous. Then you call and they act as though they don't know anything about the company and/or as how they can be a service to you. Is there another alternative for receiving calls at MCTC? If so someone PLEASE let me know ASAP.

This is the worst company ever. I pay for service which I don't get. They say it's my carrier, then it's my account. They could care less and I think someone should stop them from doing business especially at the times we are having problems with having someone in jail, this service sucks.

My son tries to call and when we press 0 to accept the calls, it tells us the call has not been accepted. This has been going on for over a month. We have called Global tel-link and they keep saying they will fix it in two weeks. As of today it has not been fixed. My son tried calling today 6 times.

I called Global Tel to file a personal complaint to let them know that they have a phone down in Laguna Hall at CIM 2 and I was told that the officers at the prison have to call Global Tel to report the problem. The problem is the officers do not have the net to file a complaint.

I feel the prices charged are extreme and the family of the inmate is unfairly charged. There is absolutely no excuse for the prices being this high. Furthermore they make you set an account to add even more money to their pocket, they charge you five dollars for a refund so they still are making unnecessary money off of inmates and their families. I think this company should be shut down immediately.

My boyfriend tried calling me so I tried to add funds to my account like I did before but this time it says press 4 to add money then it automatically says unable to process and hangs up. So I called automated number to add funds. I added $25 before I hung up. I pressed 2 to hear my balance. It said $19 then I pressed 2 again. It said $16.03 so I hung up. 2 min later a 1800 number called me to tell me my balance was low to add money!! It's a ripoff!!! They charged my account, took my money then tried to get me to do it again!!! ** GTL!!!!!

I was charged for calls not received. I called GTL and they said they would send out a letter showing I received two calls. I told them it even showed only one on my AT&T bill but they would not help me.

So I am forced to set up a account with this company because it's the only the jail has. I set the account up, they automatically deducted $8 off the account. I cannot receive calls for my husband. I called, they told me it was my phone provider so I called them. They said that I had no blocks and my service was good so I call gto back and they tell me it is because it a cell phone bull crap. I asked to speak to someone from their corporate office. They claim they don't have a number. This service sucks and they rip you off, no help to anyone and if we are paying for the service we should at least receive it.

I have had it with this "service" Saturday 10/4/2014 8:58 pm after 3 attempts to reach GTL. I want to know how much the collect call costs. In order to get the amount of charge after a call has been made from inmate you must dial back 1-888-415-0377. The system sucks, after following the instructions (press 1 for English) you get this response "GOOD BYE". You do not require an account with them to receive collect calls yet that managed to get my dad to open an account because he thought he needed one in order to receive COLLECT call from his son. So now, when his son tries to telephone his dad, he is unable to receive the call because INSUFFICIENT FUNDS on the account. This crappy system should allow phone calls to family member cell phones. Not everyone has a landline anymore.

My son has been incarcerated since July, after hearing all these reviews I'm scared to even give them a try. If they were smart more friends and family would be willing to use their service. Currently I can visit with him twice a week but my golly, when he gets transferred to a state prison... is this what I have to look forward to?

Activated the account 9-23-14. My phone would ring a couple of times and call drop. My son said he could hear me answer but I could not hear him. I called customer service, they say it could take up to 72 hrs. to check into. After trying for 6 days, my son got through and call dropped after 2 minutes. I called customer service again, they blamed my cell phone. This phone service (GTL) is no good. The customer service is just as bad! What can we do?

My 20 year old granddaughter is in facility 5500. Brittany ** and myself being her grandmother cannot answer but made one phone call every 2 or 3 days, and I have spoken with way too many representatives and 2 supervisors about my granddaughter. They have offered every excuse you could think of. When in 2013 when she was locked up, I didn't have any problems receiving her calls for 7 months, please can someone help me.

My calls are constantly dropped and GTL has no method of reimbursements, this whole system needs to be put out bid so that I can be more consumer and service friendly!!! It will help with the prison systems revamping!!!

UNTIL PEOPLE/FAMILY MEMBERS BAND TOGETHER AND FIGHT THIS, COMPLAINING LOUD ENOUGH AND HARD ENOUGH TO THEIR LOCAL POLITICIANS AND THE FCC AND THEIR STATE UTILITY COMMISSION THESE CROOKS ARE GOING TO GET AWAY WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING. They count on it being too much trouble for the family members. PICK UP YOUR PHONES, GET ON YOUR COMPUTER AND FIGHT THEM!!

I started my account almost 2 years ago. I hadn't used it for a while because my husband came home, but I had a balance of about 40/45$ that I decided to leave, because you just never know what can happen. Recently my husband went back in knowing I had a balance with them. I called inquiring about it, granted I did put 50$ on the account till I got that issue settled but as all we users of GTL know that's really only 40$ for us to use. So GTL tells me that on Sept. 1st 2014 the new rule was that if I didn't claim the balance in 90 days it was theirs....COMPLETE THIEVERY.

This company is the biggest scam artists I have ever dealt with. My husband is incarcerated in WA state and GTL just recently took over the phone calls from VAC, poor choice! We never had problems with dropped calls before and if I did, I would call and get a refund. With GTL we had 3 dropped calls in one day in a matter of minutes. One call was 1 minute, one was 10 and one was 13. I called immediately and was told they would give me credit for the one minute call but not for the other 2. When I asked why I was told it was their policy not to refund a call over 5 minutes. ARE YOU SERIOUS??? I did not hang up nor did my husband. When I stated that fact I was told it was their policy, or at least that is what I thought I was told... The non-English speaking customer service person was very hard to understand.

Called the 18002307761 and was hung up on 7 times. I asked for a supervisor and they hung up again. The reason for my call was to find out why my number wasn't working when it worked in the past with no problems; they kept telling me to call back.

My husband has been locked up for 2 week. I have done put 100$ on my phone. He only calls twice a day and my balance is low then he called and it hung up for some reason before the 15 mins and they won't credit my account. This sucks. I like t nex so much better than this.

I have gone back reading many of your complaints and have had many of the bad experiences that many of you have had with GTL. First, since the ruling last fall that prison phone companies have to keep their rates within reason; GTL has wised up and not been so abusive with their practices. If you do have a problem with them; however, my advice is to file an FCC complaint to start. Also, in addition I recommend following up with the Office of Consumer of Government Affairs in Washington, and your states attorney generals' office. Sometimes it may take a few weeks; but GTL's corporate offices will respond to it. Second, one thing that has greatly changed is now they can't block if you have a local number to the facility and they no longer require you to send them proof of residency. Someone on this page had said about GTL accounts in the the state of Maryland. I, too have experienced this because I talk to someone at MCTC in Hagerstown and think it is ridiculous that they want 15 dollars of your hard earned money upfront, but I do like that the calls are only 51 cents a piece once you get past establishing an account. So bottom line is that GTL is like any of the other companies; they have their good point and their bad points.

I have an incarcerated family member, and I got a land line to ensure that he could call me and save a few dollars where I can. Prior to me getting the land line, I researched the website, and I noticed there was no mention of the company changing their billing, nor was there any information about a courtesy limit being placed on land lines. He tried to call me today, and I realized there was a block placed on the phone. I called Cox, and was informed that it was nothing on their end. I called GTL, and they informed me that I had to set up a prepay account on the land line!!!

Calls are constantly dropped and when you call to get a refund they say that they are not responsible if a mobile phone is what's used to accept calls but not to mention the next call you can talk the whole 15 min. Then inmates not are able to purchase their own time with state issued card and when the call is dropped on their end they can't get the money back. It's businesses like this that rip off loved ones of those incarcerated.

Global Tel Link is the communications provider for inmate payphone calls from multiple institutions including the Pinellas County Jail. Evidently this company has been awarded the contract to gouge citizens. They charge exorbitant fees for local phone calls from inmates to their loved ones, which are prepaid by the innocent recipients of the calls who simply want to keep in touch. The charge for prepaying any amount on the account is 19.67% per deposit, whatever the amount. Personally I have been dealing with them for 2 months and have deposited over $200 in the account for calls from the Pinellas County Jail to my home in Pinellas Park, a distance of less than 6 miles. So in essence, I am paying more per month for less than a daily 10-15 minute phone call from an analogue pay phone than I would pay for a single line monthly smart phone with a data plan.

Incarcerated people and their families' ILL circumstance being taken advantage of by GTL, by their overpriced phone system, in which people have no choice but to be subject of their system, people being price gouged. It's wrong and is in violation of amendment rights. File complaint w/ FCC. Please, would like to file action against them. Any information on how to stop this please contact me.

After several months of trying to get service straightened out, what with their demands of providing them with proof that I own my own phone line, and having to verify my phone numbers, as well as problems documented by others here, our relative said it was easier for him to deposit the funds from his commissary account. I'm not sure how he figured this out, but we stopped having difficulty. We transfer his funds to his commissary account and then he funds the phone calls from there. He can then call us on numbers that don't need prior approval. Secondarily, if there is a way to get yourself a number local to the facility, you will save a wad of money. We have Ooma VOIP service, and Ooma allows you to have more than one phone number, which you can choose from any area code in the country. So of course, we obtained a number with an area code local to him. This has saved us a lot of grief from this grifting company! Tom from Deep Thoughtlessness, CA, your comment was uncalled for and nasty.

The company GTL owns DSI and other companies. They change the name so there's no monopoly. People, you just need to stop using the services. There's a fee when adding money to your account and there's a refund fee (??) to get your money back. YOU just need to stop using the service. Tell your family member to stop getting into trouble? Don't use the service. It's that simple....

This company SUCKS!! They already deduct a $8 fee EACH time you add money to your account then when you finally do talk to your loved one the calls are dropped OR the recording says you've attempted to make a 3 way call and terminate your call!! When asked to speak with a supervisor, you get a non professional lady who has no remorse or sympathy and basically says it's because you're calling from a cell phone. It's 2014, who really conducts their everyday business on a land line these days?? Does anyone know how to report them Or contact the BBB because this is straight FRAUD!!! And clearly, by all the reviews they are getting away with it on a daily basis!! This is the only way I can speak to my fiance and feel that this is a rip off!! They're robbing ME with no gun!!! Heeelp??

In early May or late April I discovered that my credit card was being used fraudulently by my brother’s girlfriend to accept jail house calls from my brothers on my mother’s phone line. I called Global Tel Link and was advised that the total amount stolen was $175.00. I was advised $50 had not been used. I later was advised because it's friendly fraud I'm not getting my $ back and they are not going to refund the $50 not used and not going to remove the block. Every rep I spoken with has given me a different lie/story and refuses to esc to their corporate office. One min I am told that I need to get the acct holder on the phone for help. Then when she is on the phone I am still refused help. The next min I am told that a req to refund my $ was entered. Then the next I am told it’s not.

All over the net GTL advertises unlimited calls for 7.95 a month but when contacted will not honor it. I complained to them without success. I filed a complaint with the BBB. They wrote GTL and gave them a month to respond and they never did. GTL has a monopoly on inmate telephone service so we are at their mercy and just have to bend over and take it!

I am already frustrated that my husband is in jail...I am even more frustrated that every time he calls me we are almost always immediately disconnected due three way calling...I never attempt to call anyone while on the phone with him yet we are abruptly disconnected due to three way calling..When I complain to customer service at Global Tel*link they negate responsibility due to the fact that I am using a cell phone...Almost everyone in the world uses cell phones...The home phone is almost obsolete, therefore, they are making millions on hanging up on consumers and saying they are not responsible due to us using cell phones...

Global Tel Link is clearly a scam by uneducated and thirsty individuals who take one's devastating circumstances to make millions. The customer service department is run by individuals who clearly have no training in working with the public. Not only do they deduct a service fee when you add money to your account, they deduct unused minutes to their advantage. The last two times I made a deposit, I was only able to speak to the inmate a total of two times. When I contacted customer service, the agent was extremely rude and offered no solutions to my situation. The supervisor that followed spoke such broken English, I could barely understand her and I ended up disconnecting the call.

I have been using Global Tel Link which is now Connect Network for 3 years. I have noticed that when a call has been made it charges $1.44 and $0.05 for tax per call. Well, I have been noticing for months that the amount I have in the balance column after each call and tax is wrong. They always have a negative in the balance column but a positive amount on top where it says Amount Available for Calls. So, yesterday I put $20.00 and my inmate tried to call and it said no money on account. I checked and they took over $25.00 with no explanation. I have printed my statement and they obviously cannot do any math - the whole list is wrong. The amount they charge is one thing but to continuously rip me off a few cents every phone call for 3 years is absurd. I am pissed, but because they have a monopoly there is nothing I can do. I just checked and they replaced the $25.00, but I am not even sure if the amount is correct because they put money on and take it off at their every whim.

My brother has been trying to call me for the past week and the call keeps being dropped!!!!!!! GET YOUR SYSTEM TO WORK! It's breaking my heart hearing his voice for a short moment and not being able to communicate with him. :(

I am told that if I want to receive call from a person from a correction facility, I HAVE to set up an account that allows THEM to connect the inmate to me! This has got to be illegal... I was told that, "The ONLY PHONES the INMATES have available are GLOBAL TEL*LINK operated," and that they're based out of Mexico city. The minimum amount is $25 - maximum of $100.. Tell me, is this not "KIDNAPPING/HOLDING" SOMEONE AGAINST THEIR WILL!?? How are they supposed to talk to ANYONE outside the gates?!!? THEY'RE HELPLESS!! SO IF YOU GET ARRESTED & (sorry I was yelling) can't remember ANYONE'S number because you only know them by their pic on YOUR phone when they're calling, WHAT ARE YOU TO DO?

I prepaid Global Tel*Link $50 to talk to a friend at Larry Smith Corr. The first call, I got The recording told me my account balance was down to $41 before I started. 2nd call, I had $38.3 min into the conversation. The whole $50 was used up and I was cut off. There is no way to contact a person, only machines wanting more money.

Mar 15, 2014 I called to request a refund to my credit card for the unused balance on two phone accounts. I was told the refund would be processed within 30-60 BUSINESS days, and specifically told a refund would be received by Jun 6, 2014. Today, June 6, I called to find out the status of my refund and was told it had not been processed. I was told to submit my request in writing and that it would take an additional 30 BUSINESS days. We'll have to wait and see if that happens. Their website states refunds will be processed within 30 days of the date of the last charge to the credit card. This company has less than acceptable business practices and takes advantage of families that are already experiencing stressful circumstances.

I am a senior Citizen, 66 years old. DSI Phone company scammed me by refusing to refund my money. The service was never used since December 4th 2013 of last year. I called them up, they promised within 30 business days they would return my money. They never sent the refund for this never used service.

After spending an hour on their website trying to figure out the different nonsensical terms and links that send you nowhere, I thought I was done. I then receive a call from my incarcerated friend, who had a type of calling card account he had money on. So then the system tells me before we could talk, I NEEDED TO ADD MONEY! I thought the whole reason he had to have money on his account so he could call me, and they was me to pay to receive the calls as well? So after being prompted to quickly add money by pressing 5, it then hangs up on my friend! I tried multiple ways to speak with some representative and was asked "for English, press 1" and as soon as I pressed one, it says "goodbye". What happened to the good old days before idiotic automated computer-prompted machines controlled your phone calls in a slow-paced, high-pitched, overly happy cyborg voice. Not to mention, everything on the website wasn't truly compatible with my mobile phone. I couldn't even look up the facility or state! Shame on you and your greedy correctional system, America!

I realize now that the last time I did this (having inmate calling from jail and while on the phone trying to talk to them and giving my MasterCard info only to get cut off the call once it was completed and after 11 times of trying this going online to set up account and later an email comes and I call the number like it tells me to in order to finish the registration) only to find out that they have taken my money and provide me no service and no customer service BUT THAT'S WHEN ALL THE FRAUD STARTED. THEY MUST HAVE SOLD MY INFORMATION TO CRIMINALS (THEY ARE CRIMINALS THEMSELVES - I can't believe they get away with this???) Why? Because it's family of criminals in jail? No big deal, right? Wrong!!!

I put $25.00 on my account. Had three $.50 phone calls and have a balance a little over $11.00 because of all the fees they charge and nowhere did I read that I would be charged $5 just for using a cell phone. There was a $2.00 service fee and a $5.00 account setup fee. Just plain ridiculous.

Everything everyone has written before this is true... And how did this company even get this contract? Exorbitant fees, and charges, dropped calls, cannot log into web account, can't even get the automatic phone system to recognize simple keypad entries for credits to my daughter’s phone and commissary account. And a couple of hundred dollars a month spent, so she can feel like she's connected in some way to her family?

I used my credit card to set up an account for my cousin so he could talk to his brother. I have a landline so he can call me collect but my cousin has a cell phone. Anyway, I paid, $99.00 for one year, plus a one time activation fee, and another fee to have same day activation, for a total of $141.21. Did it work? NO! I tried emailing them, and no response. I tried calling and they had no record of me setting up an account or for the money I paid with my credit card. I called my credit card company today and I am disputing the charge. Global Tel*link does not deserve any stars! Where can we complain?

I signed up with this company because it was the only one that provided phone service to the Dallas County Jail. When it came time to deposit funds, I had forgotten my log-in information. After spending over a week emailing and calling them, I have gotten nowhere. After several emails they sent me new log-in information that did not work either on an Apple or Windows system. I sent them another email telling them this and have never received a response. In my numerous attempts to call them, every number gives me another number to call. I can't pay over the phone because a site number, which is required or they hang up on you, is not available on their web page. I have dealt with thousands of internet site, several inmate phone services, and never experienced anything remotely similar to this. Companies usually want to take your money. This one doesn't seem to care, it's a joke. Thanks to them, I will have to drive 45 minutes each way to speak with this inmate. If possible, stay away from this joke of a company.

I am complaining because on several occasions such as last week 3/14/14 and 3/17/14 my phone was charged for calls that were deducted from my account I set up with this company but did not get to receive the calls but my account was charged and the funds was deducted and I was not able to talk to my family members. I would like to be reimbursed for these call. This is a system that rips families and love ones off with this company doing this. I want to be compensated back for these calls that I was charged for but did not get to speak to my family members.This is ripping people off and I want a refund for these calls. As Soon As possible.

This company charges an exorbitant fee for each call - nearly 90% were dropped. Once dropped, inmates have to call again and we're charged again. With a $25.00 deposit at GTL, one can't make more than three calls, if one's dropped then we can't get even three. How does one go about initiating an investigation? How can GTL gain a contract with Lee County? IC Solutions, operating for Hamilton County, Florida charges reasonable rates. Why aren't we able to use the company we choose? Somebody's getting his palm greased.

Our son has been incarcerated out of state for over six months. In that time we have spent close to one thousand dollars in calls because of the charges involved with being able to speak with our son. I can't begin to tell you how many calls have been "dropped". They recharge you to reconnect the calls. We decided to put A land line in. He was only allowed to make $70.00 in collect calls because they control that too. Not to mention calls all hours of the day and night reminding me that "my account is low". Nice way to take advantage of people.

Could not sign back into online account after the first time, and called Customer Service and they give you false information, having you send text to Support and they never have responded back as of this day after sending 4 emails, then Agent will tell you at Customer service they will send email to set password, never received it. This is Absolutely Sickening, when you have to pay those high fees, just Disgusting.

After dealing with this crooked company for over a year and spending ridiculous amounts of money just to keep in contact with my best friend, I have had it! This would be the second time that I have made a payment and it disappear. After depositing $25 into my account, I can't receive calls and I owe them $7.00! When calling the pathetic customer service department, I was told that it would take 3 to 5 Business days to even get a response. I then asked to speak with someone who could explain to me why my money disappeared, I was given a P.O. Box number. I mean seriously! This is absurd and this company should be shut down! I am going to contact the BBB and file a complaint!

The calls automatically takes $10 off when my husband calls then it disconnects so he has to call back. Then it cost $5 for the call and keeps disconnecting in the middle of our call which in turn he has to call back. Now I ran into the problem where they put a hold on my card because I've used too many prepaid cards and their system will only allow you to use so many cards. So they have a hold on my card and will not put the funds on the phone so that my husband can call. They claim this can be up to 10 days...

Anyone on here knows there isn't any other way if you want to speak with your loved one except to use this service, and it is the only one provided. Yes the fees were astronomical, and there was little left after they were taken out. What really has angered me to no end is the fact I requested a refund, and it clearly states a refund by check will be mailed. 1- 1/2 years later I still continue to request my money. I have gotten so many different stories from so many people there, its hard to remember them all, the check is in the mail was the most common one. Now they have me going back and forth with Western Union claiming they sent the money to me through Western Union. Of course Western Union has no records of the transfer being made so, now I'm out of the balance that was left when I requested a refund. They have us where they want us with this business. Pay the fees, get bad connections, disconnected, and never get your money back if you request the balance sent back to you. I would say write letters and be written back but they control the system of money to buy the paper, pencil and stamps too.

In addition to the $6 fee they charge you every time you add funds to the account, the fact that you MIGHT get up to 10 minutes to speak for the $19 left after the $6 fee, and the DISGUSTING customer service and DROPPED CALLS, they also charge $5 for a refund if the inmate changes location. But wait there's more...... The refund takes AT LEAST 60 BUSINESS DAYS!!!!!! That's AT LEAST 3 WHOLE MONTHS BEFORE WAITING ANOTHER 3 WHOLE MONTHS TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK!!!! But they take the funds from your account with just 6 seconds of the transaction to upload your account. This business needs to be slapped with a lawsuit for customer abuse. They are fully aware that we need to speak to our loved ones. Whether they're a "criminal" or falsely accused of something, they are still human beings and our pockets are simply not deep enough to pay for a $4/minute phone call, nor can we afford to wait 3 whole months at least to receive our refund!!! This is modern day pickpocketing and knocking out of the old lady to steal her purse. Absolutely DISGUSTING!!!

GTL charges a fee every time money is added to your phone account. I am retired and I have paid a lot of money to them so I can speak to my son. After the fee is deducted there is only a certain amount left for phone calls. I get maybe three calls from $25. I told my son not to call so often. It's sad the amount of money they charge. I am my sons only contact. I have dealt with these people for numerous years.

$3 to load a prepaid card every time. Then I counted the minutes I got for $25 ... 6 mins almost 7. That's $4 a min!!!!! And it's $6 for it to connect the first time every time. Help!!?! Are any of the prepaid $6.99 - $8.99 for unlimited to or from jail legitimate? I miss my man.

I am not going to express my situation since everyone else has gone through the same problems, instead I am going to give you a link for the US Government where you can file an actual complaint and honestly hope you do. The more people make noise they more they will take us seriously. I chose UNWANTED TELEMARKETING, TEXT, OR SPAM then Telemarketing. Stop these people from stealing our money and abusing the consumer. I am sorry but telling me there may be a fee is not fair. They need to state the facts before they charge you!!! Good Luck!

MONEY taken while waiting for transfer to another facility. I too had Global Tel Link take the money that was left in my account. It takes 2-3 MONTHS for inmates entering the State Prison System, and GTL TAKES the money left in the account after 30 days!!! STEALING money from those already struggling just to stay in contact with loved ones is a CRIME and should be punishable by law! I can't believe that the State of California allows this to continue!! It is bad enough that there is now a monopoly of the CDCR facilities, yet to have the money stolen straight up as our hands are tied if we want to keep in touch with our loved ones? The fees they charge are 18%!!!! That is just the fee you pay when you add funds to the account! To top it off, they are now routing the calls through a Texas number, so no matter if you live local or not, you either have to pay to find a local number, or get charged up the ** for long distant fees, ALONG with the fees for EACH call!!! WRONG! This should not be acceptable by the State Of California, or any other State that is employing the services of GTL!!!

Global Tel-link is totally ridiculous. Global Tel-link requires you to set up an account with them before you even find out what the rate of the call is. Wherefore Securus had a website page where a potential customer could go to and put in their phone number and what facility the call was coming from and they gave you a call rate for that call. So with Global, I have set up an account, wait for the inmate (my son) to call me before I know how much it will cost me.

My husband is in a CEC Center in Philadelphia, PA where he calls me from on a daily basis. So I set up an account with Global Tel*Link, they never made me aware that I could only use 2 credit cards per account, as I was buying prepaid MasterCards due to I don't have a bank account nor do I have any credit cards. So after using about 6-7 pre paid cards, I bought another card and called to add money to my account. The message said sorry, your card could not be approved at this time, please try again later, so I called my card to make sure that I registered it right.

I was reimbursed for my prepaid phone account after filing this complaint.

I paid 25.00 each for 2 phones. I received 1 call on 1 of my phones. I checked balance and I only had a few cents left. They stated that the call was 16.46 because it's made to a cell phone. So this leaves me with my other phone with 1 call left. I check the balance for my other phone and it shows 1.66 left and when I called about this money on account, they say I received a call and spoke for 30 min. This makes no sense since my other phone only left me with only 46 cents for 30 minutes. I NEVER RECEIVED 1 CALL ON MY SECOND PHONE, YET I AM BEING CHARGED. I paid 50.00 and only received 1 call. THIS COMPANY IS RIPPING PEOPLE and THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO. Don't use Global Link. Write a letter. THIS COMPANY IS A THIEF. They think because it's inmate calls, it's ok to steal our money.

I placed $25 on an account I set up to communicate with my boyfriend and when he called ONE time, I was told I have a balance of $20 and some change. I assumed that the call was averaging about $4 and some cents for each call. They said the call was 15 minutes and it seemed only about 10 minutes. When he tried to call back, I couldn't accept the call because now I had NO MONEY on my account. If I am told that I have a BALANCE... then I expect to have that money available the next time. Misleading and the website does NOT specify you will be charged according to distance nor how much it will be per minute.

Global Tel*Link is a major ripoff. First it takes money out of your account, charge you for calls that didn't go through & charge for drop calls. I just deposited 50 bucks on my account but Global Tel*Link claims I owe on a prepaid account. How is that possible? It's prepaid, you deposit money before you're able to receive calls & if there's no money, there are no calls.

OMG, they got you by the balls. It's the only way inmates can make calls so why not take advantage of people that are obviously already in a bad situation. Why hasn't a class action lawsuit been filed to stop this scam? When I received a computer call saying "this is a one time courtesy call," yaddy yaddy ya, "press #5 to add money to account," "recipient has selected to fund account," "please try your call back shortly"! Well, like everybody else, that was a week ago. After numerous phone calls and emails I've yet to receive a call from my account.

I deposited money. Friend couldn't call me due to WASCO being a temporary facility so he had no phone privileges. Time was from May to Oct. that he couldn't call me. No clear indication in terms and conditions, they turned the account to zero and stole my money!!!

I opened up an account for a person to call me collect from the detention center. I put $50.00 on the prepaid account via Visa. I have yet to receive a single call. The inmate calling says Global Tel said the party he is calling needs to have the account set up. I called Global Tel and they have already deducted money from my account but I have not received any calls. I am upset they take my money and still the collect calls are blocked. What a complete waste of my time and money.

I placed $25 on an account I set up to communicate with my son and when he called ONE time, I was told I have a balance of $20 and some change. I assumed that the call was averaging about $4 and some cents for each call. They said the call was 15 minutes and it seemed only about 10 minutes. When he tried to call back, I couldn't accept the call because now I had NO MONEY on my account. If I am told that I have a BALANCE...then I expect to have that money available the next time. Misleading and the website does NOT specify you will be charged according to distance nor how much it will be per minute.

The Oakland County Jail Inmate information site indicates: Friends and family members are now able to place money on a specific phone number account through V-Connect. In order to receive collect calls, you may first have to establish an account with V-Connect. For more information please log on to www.myvconnect.com or call 1-800-913-6097.

Global Tel *Link has disconnected my account from the system because they did not have enough professionalism to contact me in reference to updated information on me. If they had bothered to call me via phone, because they certainly have my number considering that has to be in the system to accept calls from the correction facilities, I would have been more than happy to update their records. The moment that I called them to transfer money from one building to the next building, they told me they could not do this. The place is the same so why would a company deny a customer their own monies to be transferred to the other building, not another location, but the same place. Instead they want to hold your money for thirty days so they may earn interest off of it while you have no goods or services that you have paid for. It takes them a second to take your money from your Bank Account and they expect you to wait thirty days or more.

The software that this company uses is awful. I've called on numerous times about their services. I've also went on to ask to speak with a manager and they did not want to transfer me. When calling from the jail the majority of the time the phone hangs up. It's said due to the high security that the software is picking up other voices and thinking it's a three-way call. Even I've had my music playing and it hung up. When I first started to use this service, I couldn't get the calls to go through. I called and they didn't explain to me that right after the recording says to push zero, you have to push zero. I've called back to try to get a credit and they said I couldn't. This software needs to be looked into. It's very annoying especially when you don't receive good customer service.

I cannot accept collect calls from my brother in the local county jail without providing my credit card to GTL to set up a prepaid account. GTL has informed me that I surpassed an "unpublished $50/90 day rule". I have requested documentation about this rule and have not received anything from GTL. This is not a payment issue as my bill is automatically paid every month without fail. The calls that I managed to receive before being blocked were billed thru 3rd party on my standard AT&T bill, but GTL says this is no longer an option due to the "unpublished rules" that I violated.

I placed money, $40.00 to be exact, which after their inflated fees I was left with $33.20.... on my account with Global Tel, & when my son collect call me ONCE, we spoke for 10 min then when he attempted to call me the next 3 days, he couldn't get through.

My son went to jail in Conroe, Texas and he tried to call me. I tried to put money on my phone through Global Tel*link. They took 2 payments of $25.00 off my card. Every time I tried to accept a call it would hang up. It finally let me receive a 5 minute call and told me there was no more money on my account. When I called their # and spoke to a supervisor she assured me the $50.00 would be reimbursed. That was on July 18th. So now it is Sept.6 and $25.00 was returned to my card. So when I call to ask why they tell me I was charged $6.95 for each $25.00 plus $5.95 return fee. Are they kidding me? They steal money one way or another. There must be some way to file a class action lawsuit against these people. They need to be put out of business. If they provided an honest service it would be fine but they don't. They lie, steal and cheat!!!!!!!

My brother has been in prison for six years now and I'm his only relative. He has always called me collect with no problem. However, I made a mistake at the prison and put money on a phone account instead of his food account. I realized it after I did it and I ask one of the guards how do I go about getting the money back. He tells me it's not worth the trouble and to go ahead and add more money to the food account. Well, now I find out GTL put a block on my phone because I set up a prepaid account and it cannot be changed. Ever! Stupid! I was on the phone with a man today for over an hour and nothing got resolved. I couldn't understand him and I ask to speak to a supervisor and she keep telling me I could not change it back so that my brother could call collect again. She did tell me I could ask for a refund which I did, so who knows what’s going to happen now. I hate GTL and I think they should not be allowed to treat us this way. We are giving them tons of money only to be treated like dirt. I really don't know what I'm going to do now. Him calling collect was the only way that I could talk with him. I was stupid for what I did and it's costing my brother dearly.

They take your money and give you the worst connection ever. And when the call drops, they don't want to give you your money back. They say if your call is under five mins., they will give you a credit. But then when your call does drop under 5 minutes which mine was 39 seconds and I call them and they see that it was under 5 mins. they have to review. Wtf is that about and they say that they have a policy which I never read or saw or was emailed to me. They should be shut down. For real. I hate them.

Called Global Tel Link to set up collect calls through Qwest only to be told that they only allow $5 a month for collect calls even though website says $100. I was told it's an old website under an old system and they are trying to make it all prepaid. Problem I have is call will be way more than $5 and once you go over they automatically put your account on prepaid! Also prepaid service takes $8.75 out of what ever you pay them just for their pocket then charge u to connect calls per use. Thank God I set up a Google voice number near the facility so calls will only cost me $2-$3 a call.

Well, 1st of all, I been trying to get collect calls from my girlfriend and I just barely got new service at home so that way she can call me, and I thought she would be able to call and no. I needed to make an account with Global Tel and they told me it will take 1 week for me to be able to get or receive her calls. Well now, I still have not been able to receive her calls, and now it's going on 2 weeks now and they are telling me that my phone company needs to review it with Global for security reasons and that it can take about 7 business days and still can't do anything. Thing still don't work. What can I do? Does anyone have another way to do this?

I just want to say that I have been totally dissatisfied with this service that Global Tel offers. From the start I have had calls come in from my husband and I try to accept the call and then call gets dropped. My husband calls and I accept the call and he can hear me but I can't hear anything on the call, so for a call that lasts 25 seconds or so I get charged over 2 bucks for (every time it happens). And then I got told how much the charges were to accept the call and how much it is for each minute after that and well fine so I try to limit our calls according to those charges that I was told, but it turns out I've been getting charged more than that. So I call Global Tel to find out what's going on and to double check on the charges and of course the fees are higher than what I was told from the beginning. Plus the container service rep was rude to me! I am very unhappy with this whole situation. I'm pregnant and already going through a difficult pregnancy and am not supposed to be stressed out but thanks to Global Tel's rip off fees, my stress level just went up again. So I hope someone can do something about this bull, because I'm about to find another phone service to set up to talk to my husband through.

I put money on my account. They said it takes 72 hours for the money to be put on my phone so that my loved one can call me. It didn't take 72 hours last time. Also, GlobalTelLink stole 250.00 off of my Wal-Mart debit card. I could not get it back. They only put 100.00 on my account. I put $20 on my account and they just stole 250. Loved ones of prisoners are already suffering enough and yes! We are taxpayers! Someone please make this business treat their customers right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are a bunch of arrogant **. I bet you wouldn't be so disrespectful in person. It's easy to be rude over the internet or phone and hang up. No wonder you don't allow people to come to your office in person to set up accounts and go over issues. Because if you did that you would have have to take more responsibility for your actions. So ** you and have a nice day...

In NY state I was very happy when VAC took over the prison phone call systems, after having to deal with Global Tel*Link and their rude customer service reps and outrageous phone charges. Now again they have bought out VAC. Already I am dealing with ignorant customer service people, having to set up another account for offender call or whatever they call their new (same old) company. Hopefully every loved ones of NY state inmates and county jail inmates will again drive them out of NY. They are greedy thieves making extreme amounts of monies off the mistakes of our friends and families and taking money and energy out of honest hardworking taxpayers.

On a Wed., I received a collect call from my son, he was in jail. I put $25.00 on my phone and could not receive a call. He called back, I added another $25.00 and it did not connect the call again. He called back and I got a $5.00 call. It was late so I could not get in touch with them. I called Global Tel*Link at 7:15 Thursday morning. The man was giving me the runaround so I asked to speak to a supervisor. She told me if they refunded my money I would not be able to receive any more calls. I told her, "I don't care, just give me back my money." It is now Monday and no refund. I called to talk to a supervisor again and they told me it takes 30 business days to get a refund. I told her, "I am in retail and I know it takes 3 business days." She said, "That is not Global Tel*Link. We take 30 days." I told her that's what they told me last year when this happened and I never got my refund. Is there any way to file a class a lawsuit against these people? Seems like there are enough complainants.

Global Tel*Link provides telephone services to inmates in local, county, and state correctional facilities. In some states (Oklahoma to name one), they "block" telephone numbers that inmates call collect after the first call and then call the number and demand that a prepaid account be set up. They do not publicize their rates, terms, or conditions. If you refuse to deposit funds into a prepaid account, they refuse to release the block.

I just got released from prison a little over a month ago where I was around 300 miles away from my home. My phone calls through Global Tel*Link were around $5.30 a call. Now, my son is locked up in the county, not even 15 miles away and I'm being charged $15 on every $50 I put on the phone, not to say they are charging between $9 and $11 a phone call and I have a local number. So my question is, is the county making that extra money? Or, where is it going?

Global Tel*Link is a scam. They know they didn't have anything to do with a certain jail anymore but they still tell you they do and that they will set up your account and it will be ready in four to twenty four hours but it never showed. Then when I tried to get a refund, they don't know where it's at. Scam! Nobody that answer the phones for this place can speak real English but the supervisor, but he ain't no help and I still don't have my money and this was the second time.

My 5-year-old may have accidentally blocked our phone number but after reading some of the reviews on GTL, now I'm not so sure. I called GTL and spoke with agent who assured me she was unblocking the number. However, my spouse still wasn't able to call. Thus, I called GTL again. This time, I was accused of basically being a LIAR, since 2 agents REFUSED to assist me. They claimed that the name on the account wasn't matching their records BUT we have had the same phone number for 15 years!!!

I purchased $25 phone minutes two times so my boyfriend can call me. He is four hours away so I cannot just go visit. The first time, we got two phone calls for five minutes. The second time, one phone call. Of course, it happens after the customer service is closed (if you can get a live person). This is a ripoff and people who want to visit or talk to their loved ones in jail have no other choice.

I was receiving collect phone calls from a relative in the local jail and had no problem. They would call collect, even though it was only about 8 miles away. I would press 0 or say yes and the call would be put through. All of a sudden, with no warning or explanation to either myself or my relative, I would pick up the phone and receive a recording asking if I wished to accept a call from the local correctional facility. I would say yes or press zero, but the call would be denied. It took me 2 days to find out that a new corporation had taken over the phone service. I then called them and asked why the calls were not being put through and was told that I had probably gone over my limit. I told them that was impossible as I was not aware of any limits in my phone service; and even if there was a limit, I had only accepted 2 phone calls at that point. I did not see how that would be over my limit.

When my young daughter was first incarcerated, I put prepaid money on my cell phone and had nonstop problems! Dropped call (from the jail, not my cellphone), horrible quality calls, and the list goes on. I was always charged for dropped call. GTL's policy is they don't refund anyone using a cell phone! Most folks don't even have a land line anymore. Well I do, so I added funds to my land line. I added $25 to my prepaid account and got a whopping 2 phone calls. GTL is offering me a $7.53 refund. What? They are just plain stupid and are robbing us blind. Someone needs to put them out of business.

For 10 months, I've been receiving calls from my family member in LA County. Suddenly, in May, calls would come, but when prompted to press 0 to accept the call (and I would), the recording repeats itself. This problem continues, and they claim it is because I use a VoIP provider (Comcast). I still have money on my account with them, but my family member cannot get through because GTL will not fix this problem permanently.

This company let someone get away with using my credit card to receive inmate calls. I called with my bank to receive the money back and was told I didn't have to dispute it with my bank and they would return the money to my card because it was fraud. I've spoken to almost every ** person in this company after being told I'd get my money back. And 3 months later almost, I have yet to receive it and was told I now need to dispute it with my bank!! This company allows your money to be taken, and as fast as they take it is as fast as how quick they are to transfer you instead of giving your damn money back!!

This number called me EIGHT times in a row. I hung up, told them to ** off, pushed 1 to cancel... it just kept calling back. This was NOT from anyone I know and I don't understand why the prison or whoever allows it! The number is registered to Global Tel, who I guess does prison calls. The caller kept saying, "How are you and the kids?" Doesn't work for me. I'm a senior citizen with grown up kids AND grandkids.

I have been paying these RIPOFF ARTISTS for almost a year to speak to a loved one!! What a ripoff!! I just paid $25 YESTERDAY. We spoke ONCE for approximately 5-7 minutes and the remaining balance is $8 TODAY!!! I am going to try my best to get this information to the mainstream so that folks will picket your company! You are ripoff artists and playing on the emotions of the incarcerated, and the people who love them. I hope you all rot in hell along with **, who was a racist pig, and so are you!!!

My son was in jail. The call to the jail is local same area code. They charge a ridiculous fee each time you add money to the account. When I hear the balance before being connected to my son, it makes no sense. Sometimes right after putting $25 on the card the first call, it will say my balance is $17. This company has a monopoly on the system so they can charge whatever they want. The connections are horrible and sometimes I don't even get to speak with my son because he will try 3 or 4 times and the calls all drop, so he has used up his chances for the day.

Global Tel*Link is the biggest rip off ever! Their customer service representatives don't even know what they are talking about and you cannot understand them anywhere. Can something be done to get rid of these crooks?! We are held hostage to use Global Tel*Link if we want to receive calls from our loved ones that are incarcerated. Please someone tell us what we can do to get rid of Global Tel*Link services. Biggest rip off ever!

My brother is incarcerated in San Luis Obispo, CA (805 area code). When he calls me, the area code is 713. This switch allows the company to charge more in toll fees. The further the distance, the more the toll charge. Also, this company will not and does not provide statements or a listing of charges per minute to the account holder. This is unfair to the consumer. The consumer has no options or choice to use any other service. We are being held hostage by this ripoff. What can be done about this situation?

I bought £5 worth of credit and it says £2.50 extra free, and guess what? The card was empty after using it for less than 20 minutes. I rang customer service several times, asked me to wait and wait but no credit returned! I was told that credit will be activated after 24 hours; and when checked, no credit given! I rang customer service, they said they've given the credit back. But as I have not used it for few days, there is a maintenance fee charged on it! Really stupid! Beware consumers, this company is a fraud!

I was charged $7.05 for a 3-minute call and $11.10 for an 8-minute call!

This is the worst company ever. They take my money, hang up in my face and tell me that I'm not worth their time and they're not going to solve any of my issues. They block all my calls. They refuse to fix the phones ... I can go on for days. Someone needs to help us with this issue. Not only does this hurt us, it hurts our loved one who is incarcerated.

I have been throwing more and more money at Global Tel*Link. I asked several times about a breakdown of the account, how much they are charging me for fees and per call. I would put $50 on the account and on my next call I would only have $14 left. Well, what about the previous balance? I have emailed them about giving me details of the account and I get a vague, box email sent back. I am disgusted that we are being victimized just because someone we love and need to hear from is incarcerated. I think this is highway robbery and I want to know if they are regulated and by whom. There has to be a better alternative than having to deal with these crooks?! They should be in jail!

Since Maryland DOC has switched to Offender Connect instead of Securus, all we have are problems. We have calls that cut off after 10 minutes (if we're lucky enough to get a call). Oftentimes they cannot get through at all. I went from a normal phone call routine of 6 calls a day with Securus down to 2 complete calls if I am lucky. And if you call to complain, if the call lasts more than 5 minutes, you may not call about being cut off. If and only if the call lasts less than 5 minutes can you call and they will have an investigation. If the investigation doesn't prove exactly what you say, they charge you $5! We pay for 30-minute calls, not 10 minutes, 17 minutes or whenever it decides to cut us off. It is the worst phone system ever and I will do whatever it takes to make sure it is known.

I am being charged $4.46 a local call. First, they told me it's long distance. Then when I came back with a response that it is not a long distance call but local, they told me to get another number.

I have put hundreds and hundreds of dollars on my GTL account and I still cannot receive calls. I called and talked to a GTL rep and they can’t give me any explanation of why I can’t receive a call from my loved one who was incarcerated. He calls me all the time and never gets through. All GTL does is put your funds on hold. I do truly believe that this company needs to be investigated for fraud and white collar crimes. They are the most downright disrespectful company I have ever met. Worst experience I have ever run into in my whole entire life.

I have been attempting to deal with the people in this company for several years and it has been the worst experience with a business that I have ever had. The customer service representatives are rude, nasty and seem to make an effort to keep you as uninformed as possible. Account information such as monthly monetary limits, changing service providers or making payments necessary to keep the account from being blocked is information that will only be given after an account is already blocked. Once an account is blocked, it can take weeks to get it unblocked. I have had nasty and rude representatives every time I have contacted Global Tel Link and in an already tough situation, they are only making things worse with their negativity and harsh demeanor.

I was wondering if you could investigate the company by the name Global Tel*Link. They are the phone company that we have to use if our loved ones are incarcerated. I believe they are ripping us customers off. First, your account has to be prepaid. The fees to put money on your account is as follows: if you do it by the automated system, you can only put $25 or $50 and they take a processing fee out for that, which is about the cost of one full phone call. If you use Western Union, the fee is $10.95! This company makes communicating with your family members very difficult.

This is our first experience with this monopoly and it is a dreadful experience. It's obvious they are taking advantage of a literally captive audience. I was told by Intake that I could set up an account the following day after registering as an approved visitor (required by the facility to register for the phone service). I did so and afterwards got called from GTL saying there were attempts that could not go through and to call them, which I did. The rep I talked to proceeded to tell me I didn't have an account. I assured her I did - I was looking at it online as we spoke. I had deposited funds into it. She insisted I had no account and had to fax them a bill from my phone company proving the number was mine. What baloney. I told her we don't receive a bill - we use Ooma VOIP and they bill our credit card directly - there is no bill with our name, address and phone number on it. She said that without it, we could not receive calls. So I had to ask Ooma to dummy up a bill.

Company plays the old switch and hold program, and you can never talk to a person in charge. They don't mind taking your money, but service is a word they have never heard. Poorest service I have ever had, and I think the company should be shut down for fraud and white collar crimes. Please learn from my misfortune.

Their customer service is a joke. I prepaid $25 on my phone, only to get several calls stating they need more info on the order to allow inmate calls. They wanted a copy of my phone bill. So I called and asked if I could just transfer the money to the offender's prepaid card. They said no, and explained why. So I asked for a refund. They wanted the card number I originally used to initiate the refund. I had lost that card and had a replacement, so they said I had to get a check by mail, which was fine, until they said I had to write a letter asking for a refund in writing. That's when I asked for the CEO's name or the president's name. The rep had no idea. When I asked for the corporate number, the rep gave me a customer service number different than the one I called. I was so mad. So when I talked to a second rep, he set my account up without me sending a copy of a bill in to them and all was well. Why are they allowed to put you through hell before helping? It was just stressful.

Throughout my experience with Offender Connect, I've had numerous complaints. The first is my card(s) constantly being declined online for no apparent reason. I called and tried to do the automated payment, but same thing. I spoke to a supervisor (Carlos), who was of no assistance whatsoever. I informed him that my billing address was correct and I had sufficient funds, so I wanted to know why my card is being declined. He kept reading off of his script, saying my options are Western Union or automated phone payment. I was fully aware of my options as I had already told him. I wanted to know why I couldn't make the payment online. He was of no assistance. He wasn't human. I guess what I wanted to hear was, "Hey, sometimes if your using this __ type of card, the payment may get declined" or something, anything!

I feel Global Tel*Link is acting illegally and has a monopoly on all outgoing phone calls from most jails and prisons. They do not allow collect calls and the actual time used is excessive when compared to other outside phone carriers. Since you are dealing with inmates, they don't care and thus they are allowed to continue to overcharge their customers i.e. the inmates, and their families. This is the only form of outside communications inmates have other than physical visits. The monopoly should cease and other carriers be allowed to have access to inmate communications. This is a clear unfair trade practice that is allowed since it is dealing with incarcerated people. Global Tel*Link should be stopped and/or forced to allow competition! How about collect calls allowed.

For the past year, Global Tel*Link has been draining my pockets by ending my phone calls prematurely though I still have money on my account. I've tried calling Customer Service but it gets me nowhere. Today, when I called, I was told that if you talk to an inmate for 5 minutes, that's a conversation & that's their policy. I emailed a lawyer who is currently pursuing this issue. I think everyone else should too. This is exploitation & they should not get away w/ it.

Service fee of 19% everytime you make a payment - I run a non-profit, legal business helping inmates with all their legal issues, credits, etc. When Global changed from a bill account to prepaid accounts, that's when they started hitting the pocket books of so many people. It's hard enough to have a loved one incarcerated, but to communicate with them is even harder. Financially, it's hard enough but to purposely ripoff the innocent ones is unethical and should be illegal. I thought we lived in America, where people were treated fairly. They prey on captive audience and abuse that right. We fight for animal rights. Why can't we fight for human rights? When a facility is locked down to Global Tel Link, the charges triples. Just like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, they will never be one because of the competition.

I have been dealing with this company for years and have lost hundreds of dollars to GTL. No one cares because we are talking to inmates. We have no choice if we want to be in touch with friends or family. How this company is still in business I do not know except that our local governments are profiting from this in a large way and that's why they do not care or act on these criminal acts!

On 1/24/2013, I placed $50 on the prepaid account through Global Tel*Link for my husband that is incarcerated at Duval County Jail. I understood the processing fee of $4.95 would come off that, which I was okay with. I have been through this process before so I understood fully on how it works. The first call was placed at 8:30 am. When the next call came that afternoon, it told my balance was 30 something dollars. I knew it wasn't accurate so I figured it was a system error. My husband placed 2 more calls and the balance was down to $7.00!

I used to receive collect calls on my home phone through Verizon, until Global Tel Link placed a block on my line. They indicate that they are no longer willing to bill a third party for collect calls, yet they have employed a third party to manage their pre-pay accounts. Offender Connect, who manages their pre-pay accounts, takes 20% of the money you plan to use for talking to your loved one and then Global Tel Link charges $7.11 for a 15-minute call. If you want to be able to speak with your loved one, you have no choice but to pay an arm and a leg for an account through Global Tel Link. How is it that they are able to monopolize the prison call system and rob each of their customers? This is not even mentioning the horrible call quality and number of dropped calls, which are not reimbursed.

I put $25 on my prepay account via the automated system on 1/4/2013. Less than 2 hours later, my son called from jail and I was told I did not have enough money on the account to accept the call. I called Global Tel*Link (GTL) and was told by the rep that he sees my deposit however, for some reason, the computer did not apply the payment to my account and I would have to wait 7-10 business days because he has to report a missing payment. He gave me a confirmation number. I called right back to question why they couldn't just put my money on the account and I was told by that rep that he doesn't see my payment and that the last guy only noted that I had a missing payment. I was told, "You have to load up."