My friend in Michigan would love to call me. Has anyone had any luck with arranging phone calls to the UK.

Hi,

I am in the UK also - there are a number of different phone companies that are used accross the US, I'm not sure what company is used where your friend is. The usual proceedure is that you send him your phone number (some states won't allow them to call mobiles) and he adds you to his phone list. Then, depending again where he is, hecan buy a pre-pay phone card, or money has to be put into his inmate account for calls.

the price varies a lot as well - I've heard its about $15 for 15 miutes, but this is only a guide. I'd suggest looking on the main forum section, and doing a search on UK phone calls as I know there are a lot of topics relating to this in the past. I'm going through the same thing at the moment, but my pal is in TN - they use GTL there which apparantly is terrible! If I can help you with anything else, PM me
Holly

Thanks Holly. He's been told they are not allowed to phone other countries but do you think if he has a phone card it is up to him where he phones on it.

Hi Sheryl, im from Holland and first it seems we couldnt call too. After months we found out it's possible. He can call me on my cellphone, and the rates are $ 18,00 for half an hour.

__________________
~Live with no excuses, and love with no regrets~

Thanks but how does your friend do it. Is it on a phone card or through some kind of account because mine has been told he is not allowed to call abroad. $18 for half an hour to a cellphone is very reasonable. You're very lucky. I would love to speak to him.

Well *unofficially* - both myself and a friend of mine in SA have recently just written our mobile phone numbers somewhere in out letters...and the other day my freinds pal called her out of the blue..he went and purchased a phone card and then dialled the number....
I think my special pal in TN will be able to do the same, although officially I think I'm supposed to be on some phone list ??- although he did say he wasn't too sure about that. He's not supposed to call mobiles, but they don't check the numbers - so I just said 'this is my phone number' and left it at that. After all, that's not a lie is it!
I also know I can put money into his inmate account to help pay for calls.

Thanks. that's a great help. I'll try it. Just one more thing. I'm sending him occassional money orders but that's quite an expensive way to do it as my bank charges £10 each time. Do you know of any other ways. I really appreciate your help.

Ouch! That is a lot. I remember my post office quoting me £12 for a international money order. Can he accept western union transfers? Or there another company the prison might use - if you ask him he may be able to find out. Or you could call the prison and ask - have you seen if there is any info on the DOC for where he is?

Have some info from GTL about international phone calls [commercial link removed - Chief Moderator], not set up an account wit them yet or tried but will be in the near future once I have found out that I am still on my pp list.

For anyone in the UK who has seen the PDF document from GTL will know that a prepaid account can be set up using money transfer via Western Union so calls can be made to the UK. This is not the case money can not be sent to GTL via Western Union as money can oinly be sent from the UK to a person not a company.
As per normal with Western Union they are no help at all in trying to solve this problemm and you will be lucky if they respond to any questions at all, myself I will not use them anyway due to past experiance. If you want to receive calls from your pp/loved one in the USA look for another means of doing so. Gtl are also no help I have had email deleted with out being opened so no hope of help from them.