Voice Service and Equipment

[charmed13]

IS ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT COMCAST CAN TELL YOU WHO YOU CAN & CAN'T ACCEPT COLLECT CALLS FROM?!?!?!  THEY BLOCK ALL COLLECT CALLS FROM ALL CORRECTIONAL FACILITES WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT!! THIS IS DISCRIMINATING TO THOSE WHO HAVE FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE IN THESE FACILITIES.  COMCAST SHOULD HAVE NO SAY WHO YOU, MYSELF OR ANYONE CAN RECEIVE COLLECT CALLS FROM!! WE THE CUSTOMERS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO PAY THE BILL FOR THIS CALL NOT COMCAST!!  THEREFORE WHO ARE THEY TO SAY THAT THEY CANNOT BE RECEIVED?!?!?  COMCAST SAYS YOU HAVE TO SET UP A PRE-PAID ACCOUNT WITH ANOTHER COMPANY TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THESE CALLS!! I DO NOT THINK THIS IS RIGHT BECAUSE THE COLLECT CALL IS BILLED TO THE CUSTOMER THEREFORE IT SHOULD BE THE CUSTOMER'S CHOICE WHETHER OR NOT THEY ACCEPT THESE CALLS.  THEIR REASON FOR THIER DOING THIS IS BECAUSE "A FEW PEOPLE"  HAVE HAD BILLING ISSUES WITH COLLECT CALLS FROM THESE PLACES.. OK FINE.. THEN BLOCK THEIR PHONES NOT EVERY CUSTOMER'S !!!  I AM VERY IRRATE OVER THIS & AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING CANCELLING MY PHONE AND INTERNET SERVICE WITH COMCAST!  THIS IS UNETHICAL & DISCRIMINATING WHAT THEY ARE DOING!!

[Drewby]

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charmed13 wrote:
IS ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT COMCAST CAN TELL YOU WHO YOU CAN & CAN'T ACCEPT COLLECT CALLS FROM?!?!?!  THEY BLOCK ALL COLLECT CALLS FROM ALL CORRECTIONAL FACILITES WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT!! THIS IS DISCRIMINATING TO THOSE WHO HAVE FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE IN THESE FACILITIES.  COMCAST SHOULD HAVE NO SAY WHO YOU, MYSELF OR ANYONE CAN RECEIVE COLLECT CALLS FROM!! WE THE CUSTOMERS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO PAY THE BILL FOR THIS CALL NOT COMCAST!!  THEREFORE WHO ARE THEY TO SAY THAT THEY CANNOT BE RECEIVED?!?!?  COMCAST SAYS YOU HAVE TO SET UP A PRE-PAID ACCOUNT WITH ANOTHER COMPANY TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THESE CALLS!! I DO NOT THINK THIS IS RIGHT BECAUSE THE COLLECT CALL IS BILLED TO THE CUSTOMER THEREFORE IT SHOULD BE THE CUSTOMER'S CHOICE WHETHER OR NOT THEY ACCEPT THESE CALLS.  THEIR REASON FOR THIER DOING THIS IS BECAUSE "A FEW PEOPLE"  HAVE HAD BILLING ISSUES WITH COLLECT CALLS FROM THESE PLACES.. OK FINE.. THEN BLOCK THEIR PHONES NOT EVERY CUSTOMER'S !!!  I AM VERY IRRATE OVER THIS & AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING CANCELLING MY PHONE AND INTERNET SERVICE WITH COMCAST!  THIS IS UNETHICAL & DISCRIMINATING WHAT THEY ARE DOING!!

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Again, another reason to keep Land Line Service!

[EarlyOut]

Find the CAPS LOCK key on your keyboard.  Press it once.  That will fix one of your problems immediately.

[charmed13]

Ok, that made no sense at all.

[EarlyOut]

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charmed13 wrote:
Ok, that made no sense at all.

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Ah, I see you found it!  Thank you.

[charmed13]

As mad as I was I could have cared less if my cap lock key was on.. it was the point I was trying to make.

<Inappropriate comment removed>

Message Edited by Michael on 09-04-2006 11:56 AM

[EarlyOut]

Using all caps is considered shouting, and is not welcome in the forums.  Calling other posters names is enough to get you banned, so you might want to reconsider the advisability of doing that, as well.

[charmed13]

The caps were a reflection of my anger as you can read in my post.  After all that I did write, a comment like that was rude in my opinion. 

[EarlyOut]

I understand your anger, but this is a user-to-user forum, so shouting at other Comcast users usually doesn't accomplish much.

I wasn't familiar with some of the problems surrounding collect calls placed from prisons, but some quick googling reveals that it's a trouble-prone area.  Because the inmates often can't choose the long distance carrier, and the prisons have sweetheart deals with just one carrier, the cost of the collect call can be many, many times what a regular collect call would be (remember, it's not CDV rates you're paying when you accept the collect call, it's the rate of whatever carrier serves that prison).  So, when the bill shows up, the person who accepted the call is often shocked at the total, and billing disputes arise.

Granted, Comcast could approach the problem better, but they have a habit of throwing out the baby with the bathwater.  I suspect they're not alone, however - I think all large companies are inclined to do things that way, because it's less expensive for them.

Not sure what the solution would be, in your case.  Anyone else have any ideas?

[KittyMom]

Comcast FAQ

[BluegrassMan]

Does Comcast CDV offer a secondary 1-800 number like some of the other providers do? Not sure what the charge would be if they do, but undoubtedly it would be much less than paying for collect calls. Just a thought.....

[EarlyOut]

Here are a couple of potential solutions - I have no idea whether they're legit or not, but it's a place to start:

http://4pco.com/

http://outsideconnectioninc.net/

From what I can figure out, you can also set up a prepaid account with the carrier who handles the phone service from the prison, but it's not clear how one goes about doing that, and the costs are likely to be very high.

After reading a lot of posts about this whole issue, it sounds like it might be time to rediscover the lost art of letter-writing!

[Drewby]

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BluegrassMan wrote:

Does Comcast CDV offer a secondary 1-800 number like some of the other providers do? Not sure what the charge would be if they do, but undoubtedly it would be much less than paying for collect calls. Just a thought.....

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From what I understand?? Prisoners  are not allowed to use 800 Numbers.. has to be a regular number "Collect"..

[BluegrassMan]

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Drewby wrote:

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BluegrassMan wrote:

Does Comcast CDV offer a secondary 1-800 number like some of the other providers do? Not sure what the charge would be if they do, but undoubtedly it would be much less than paying for collect calls. Just a thought.....

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From what I understand?? Prisoners  are not allowed to use 800 Numbers.. has to be a regular number "Collect"..

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Ahh......more money for the prison and whatever service they contract with......nothing like a bit of government corruption, huh?

[EarlyOut]

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BluegrassMan wrote:

Ahh......more money for the prison and whatever service they contract with......nothing like a bit of government corruption, huh?

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It's not really a case of corruption.  While it's true that the prisons take in a lot of cash in commissions for the phone service, that money is used to fund prison operations - it's not like the warden is pocketing the money.  Still, it does seem unfair, and there are suits against the practice wending their way through the courts in several states, I gather.

[Drewby]

Hi EO,

Just read your Posting... must be something new?? I knew a Guy that worked for a Prison and he got an 800 Number for his Home.. but that Prison wouldn't allow them to use an 800 Number.  That was a few years ago..

Glad they found a Service, that you posted the URL's to.

But that still leaves a problem of regular people wanting to call someone Collect for an Emergency or whatever..

[EarlyOut]

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Drewby wrote:

But that still leaves a problem of regular people wanting to call someone Collect for an Emergency or whatever..

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CDV isn't blocking all collect calls - just the ones from prisons, because of all the billing disputes.

(Off-topic - I never thought about it before, but you can't make a collect call to a cell phone.  Since that's all I have, no one would ever be able to call me collect!)

(Edit: So, Drewby, when they finally apprehend you, don't try calling me to post bail for you! )

Message Edited by EarlyOut on 09-03-2006 06:34 PM

[BluegrassMan]

Thanks for the clarification EO. It does seem unfair. I understand the prisons need to make money. That helps keep taxes down too, I guess? But rehabilitation would seem to be easier if the inmate were able to more easily contact their family, and to do so without adding any (more) undue financial burden on them. That contact with family outside serves as a reminder to all they are missing while incarcerated

[Queen-Evie]

Charmed, I don't know if this would work within the setting you describe but you could check to see if the inmate is allowed to have a pre-paid phone card. I agree that blocking calls without the customers permission is not a good practice. However, I also know that many are shocked when they see the charge for the collect call on their phone bill. Several years ago, I received a collect call from the county jail, and curious to see who had been busted, I accepted. Turned out to be someone wanting to talk to a person with the same name as my husband-our number was listed first in the phone book. I don't remember what the charge was, but it was higher than I thought it should be.  Many recipients of these calls are not aware of how the these phone systems work, until they see their bill.

[Naddie1]

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charmed13 wrote:
The caps were a reflection of my anger as you can read in my post.  After all that I did write, a comment like that was rude in my opinion. 

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Tis a good idea, to stop, count, take a cold shower, then report. That way you make more sense.
BTW, I did not read your post, as it is too hard to read.

[elijah99]

can't believe i replied, but had to.  WHOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[charmed13]

No, they are not able to receive calling cards etc.. which I can understand how it could get a bit crazy in there if people steal them from each other etc.  I don't understand how they can say that people were upset when they got their bills & had these calls on them because you have to press 0 to accept the calls.  I have no problem with people putting blocks on their phones just not mine.  It should clearly be my choice.  Those prepaid accounts are a minimum of $25.00 a month deducted off of your credit card bill.  I don't accept that many collect calls a month so I don't feel as though I should be charged a minimum amount.  They should deduct as I use it etc...  Also someone had asked how much it costs when someone calls collect & I know it is 93 cents for the 1st minute & I am not sure what each additional minute costs.  It is true what someone on here said that the family & friends on the outside are their connection to the "real world"  We out here on the outside aren't the ones that commited the crime therefore stop treating us like we were.  All I ask is that Comcast remove whatever block THEY put on my phone so I can talk to my brother.  I don't feel as though that is asking too much.  Keep the blocks on unless someone asks for it to be removed.  I for 1 am asking for it to be removed.  So frustrating....

[Drewby]

Hi,

Have you contacted Comcast about this??  I mean by phone or e-mail or chat...

[charmed13]

Yes I have contacted them via phone and email.  To no avail I might add.  They don't seem to care how this affects people I guess.  It's not a big deal to them & basically in a nut shell I am just out of luck, period... end of discussion as far as they are concerned.

[charmed13]

oh yes & I forgot.. I did also use their "chat" option as well & the guy David I spoke to basically just kept typing "sorry there is nothing we can do"

[Drewby]

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charmed13 wrote:
oh yes & I forgot.. I did also use their "chat" option as well & the guy David I spoke to basically just kept typing "sorry there is nothing we can do"

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Gee,

I am really "Sorry" to hear that....

[Barmar]

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charmed13 wrote:
Yes I have contacted them via phone and email.  To no avail I might add.  They don't seem to care how this affects people I guess.  It's not a big deal to them & basically in a nut shell I am just out of luck, period... end of discussion as far as they are concerned.

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I'm not sure what you expected them to do.  The FAQ is very clear that you have to set up an account with the company that the correctional facility uses.  Customer support people can't change company policy or redesign the system, all they can do is help you use the service the way it's designed.