Securus Technologies review: Money stolen from credit card after i call this company to put money in account for my son to call from jail 52

I am actually very frusterated at this point in time, i am being denied the accsess to make a payment what so ever. This would be my second payment of $50. I had previously already checked the status of my credit card and bank statment for a check. I am being denied the right to make a payment so i can talk to my loved one. They want money why dont they take mine they are taking all yours. makes me wonder, whats really going on?

THEY R CROOKS THEY STOLE MY MONEY AS WELL. I PUT 25 FROM MY DEBIT CARD AND NOW IT DOESNT WORK MY BOYFRIEND KEEPS TRYING TO CALL ME AND IT SAYS "CREATE AN ACCOUNT"! NOW I HAVE BEEN ON HOLD FOR 27 MINUTES STRAIGHT WITHOUT TALKING TO ANYONE! WE SHOULD ALL WRITE LETTERS OF HOW DISGUSTED WE ARE...SOOOO MAD! IM A STRUGGLING MOTHER, AND 25 BUCKS MEANS A WHOLE LOT TO ME! AND THESE PEOPLE R THEIVES!

I am filing a complaint with the BBB and the County Jail that uses this services. I used this service 2 times, so my son could call me when he was arrested. The first time, I called and made payment over the phone. Nothing was expalined to me about the money expiring after 180 days. When I needed the service again 1.5 years later, I called them to get the money changed to a different phone number. They explained that I no longer have any money on the account. They said that it goes to the schools if people don't file for a refund after 180 days. I complained to no avail. I deposited more money. This time when I contacted them for a refund, they said that they would mail a check out in 3 to 5 weeks. I complained and said that this is not what their websited stated. The website stated "Refund Information

Pre-paid accounts with credit remaining on them will expire one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of the last call placed using the account. On expired accounts, no refunds will be issued after the account expiration date. Prior to expiration, full or partial refunds may be obtained. To obtain a refund on an unexpired account, please contact CBS by phone at [protected], by email at customer_service@correctionalbillingservices.com or by chat at www.correctionalbillingservices.com. For all Check and Credit Card transactions made by phone or website, refunds will be applied to the payment source last used. For refunds on accounts that were paid via Western Union or for payments mailed to CBS’s lockbox, a check will be mailed via regular U.S. Postal Service. Please allow 3-4 weeks for processing. When paying with a personal check please be aware that a returned check charge of up to $25 may be applied for dishonored checks. Additional charges such as late payment fees may apply where applicable."
I explained that I paid with a CC and wanted the money put back on the CC. they said that since I had used some of the money, they had to send a check. They said that they would report the website error and have it changed.
I have had it with this company, and am filling a complaint with the BBB and county jail.

SO MANY TIMES I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO MY SON, WHO IS IN JAIL, AND THE PHONE CALL WILL DROP. lAST NIGHT HE CALLED THREE TIMES AND IT CUT US OFF THREE TIMES. THEY WON'T GIVE YOU A CREDIT IF IT'S OVER SIX MINUTES. WE HAD TALKED ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND IT CUT OFF. HE CALLED BACK TWO MORE TIMES AND IT DID IT AGAIN. WE ARE TOTALLY AT THEIR MERCY. MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS IS THEIR PUNISHMENT IS BEING IN JAIL, NOT BEING DEPRIEVED OF TALKING TO THEIR FAMILY. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU PAY THE MONEY AND IT CUTS YOU OFF AFTER FIVE MINUTES. THE COST IS TOTALLY OUT OF REACH FOR ALL OF US NOW. WE DO THE BEST WE CAN TO KEEP A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS AND EAT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THEM AND GET DROPPED CALLS. I WOULD BE STANDING AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE IF WE COULD GET ENOUGH PEOPLE TO STAND UP.

They make you pay upfront to receive collect calls from the city of country jail, yet when the call drops before our time is up they Still charge you $360. plus.40cent for the call you never recevied. I will report this to BBB and see what they can do about this SCAM!

WELL NOW THE DROP CALL CREDIT IS ONLY AFTER 1 MINUTE! I AM SO SICK ON CORRECTIONAL BILLING SERVICES, I TOO AM FILING A COMPLAINT. I WENT ON AND ADDED UP THE DROPPED CALLS FOR ### AND GIGGLES AND I HAVE LOST $66.30 IN CALLS, I AM FURIOUS. OTHER THAN THAT I HAVE NOT HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS SERVICE BUT I DO FEEL THEY ARE STEALING OUR MONEY AND I DO NOT KNOW OF ANOTHER SERVICE. SUCKS ... WE ARE AT THEIR MERCY

I am having the same problems . When someone calls me from the parish jails my calls drop alot and I am still being charged for the whole time and then I gets a call saying that I own them more money for what ? Thats what I want to know.

you all guys are all idiots.. all of what you all are saying is bull ###. stop slandering the company who are allowing you all to speak to your loved ones who got put away...YOU ALL SHOULD BE THANKFULL...A SATISFIED CUSTOMER..rEMEMBER THERE IS A GOD...

I put $53 on my account on Tuesday, May 12, 2009. On Thursday, May 14, 2009, my Fiance called me from the Columbia County Jail and ended up getting disconnected 4 several times. It kept saying that "custom calling features were not allowed with this call".First of all I donot have call waiting, callerID, or 3 way calling, I only have basic telephone services.When I would cough or a little too much noise was in the background this would happen.We would only be on the phone for a couple of minutes and this would happen.I contacted customer service over the phone for a reimbursement they said that I had to contact the complaint center online and reinsured me that it would not happen again.Then on Friday, May 15, 2009 it happened 2 other times.I have let this go on several occasions but now I'm getting tired of being ripped off and not getting my money's worth.I have 4 children, I don't have money like that to keep blowing on calls I'm paying for and getting disconnected for no apparent reason.I would like my money reimbursed ASAP, please.(This is ridiculose.)thankyou for your time.

i am very much so pregnant and due any day. my husband likes to call in the morning and at night to check on me. everything was going good with the billing services until now. starting about 2 months ago i noticed the money was going really fast, calls were being dropped, and now i cant make a payment with either one of my credit cards (one of which i havent even used through them before). i know i have the funds in my account, which doesnt make since why neither one of my cards are working. this is our first child and my husband is really nervous. not being able to talk to him is really hard. he is suppose to be transfered to tdc within the next couple weeks. i just want to talk to him bfore he gets transfered. are there any other services i can call?

Correctional Billing Services is a pure scam. The Real criminals are the fat a** sheriffs getting paid off to allow this company to operate in their jails. My son is only in for 60 days and will be transferred to a federal motel (pen), but I feel really sorry for those of you who have to put up with this BS for months and even years.

I would copy these complaints, talk to others in visitor's waiting rooms, collect complaints there and present this info to the county or city commissioners, and if they don't listen, take it to the media. Everybody has been hurt and suffered enough at this point. Time for a little compassion, no?

That rockstarre dude who defended these shysters must be one of the owners. Oh, yeah, they live customer service in Mexico City is a real joy to work with too.

They make everything purposely very hard so you can't deal with any problems you are having. Ask the city officials to try to call them and see what you have to put up with.

Better yet, some hot shot out there, who is a good person, start a company to give decent, humane service to the parents and spouses who have already paid enough in various ways.

There are many sheriffs out there who should be ashamed of themselves.

Well, good luck to you all.

I just received a call from my son and was abruptly cut off and asked to setup an account to receive collect calls. During that message, it stated something about waiving or reducing the ‘activation’ fee or something, so I continued and was put in touch with an operator.

While giving her my credit card information and requesting $20 be put on my account, I was cut off. I’m guessing she hit the Release button instead of the ‘hold/mute’ button, because I didn’t press any buttons on my phone.

Then, when I realized I’d been disconnected, I called the [protected] number to try to set up the account again. This time however, I’m being informed that it will cost $6.95 and I must put a minimum of $50 on the account. After giving my credit card information over the phone, I requested to speak to a representative. I got a young man, that didn’t seem to understand what I was trying to explain.

My complaint is that I received a message saying that if I signed up today the fee would be waived, but when I tried to set up the account I’m being billed the additional $6.95. Additionally, I only wanted to put $20 on the account but the system required a $50 minimum, which means if I don’t use it all, I will have to put in a request for the balance and that will take 6-8 weeks for a refund.

I’m not very happy with the service and feel that this is a real rip off for people who are already upset over the situation that our loved one is in. Just one more thing to add to our stress level.

Ever since my fiance was transfered to New Castle Correctional Facility we have had to deal with Correctional Billing Services. I keep good track of the dropped calls, and as of now we are very close to 150.00 dollars in calls that were just cut off for no reason. I always make sure im away from t.v.s and othe phones and I don't have a clue how to do a custom call, but thats what it says im doing just before it hangs up and he has to call back, which encures another charge. Now that I have sent in the proper papers 2xs and faxed them 3xs, they are saying that there aren't any dropped calls. What the heck? Where is the better business bureau' s number ?

I do highly believe CCBS is just a scam for someones money. The $6.95 additional fee is outrageous! As i talk to my loved one the stupid operator goes on and is a waste of the time that I am paying for. We only get 10 minutes to talk and the operator takes up that time. Its almost 5 bucks a call the least they could do is allow us to talk those ten minutes without interruptions.

I feel that i am being charged too much for my bill.

You are all so right! I had Verizon and my son called me once a month with no problem sometimes more if there was a hoiday. It was just added to the bill and that was that. I have sense moved and have no choice but to use AT&T and no one told me it would automaticlly be turned over to this rip off CBS. My son called me twice and then the next time he tried to call there was a block and that happened to be Thanksgiving. I got a letter from him asking me why the phone was blocked and I wrote him back and told him it wasn't. I can email him through JPay so he gets them very quickly. I called AT&T and asked them why they put a block on and they told me they didn't that CBS just took over and only gave me a $55.00 allowance every 90 days. I did not set up an account with them they did it themselves. Plus they charge $2.95 a month to be billed through the phone co. Here is the real cute part, I can't receive anymore calls from my son until Jan. 8th but they are still charging me service fee of $2.95 and my last bill I was charged double and haven't spoken to my son sense Oct. 28. There is a real big scam going on here and did you all notice you are speaking to someone in India? I called and raged on them but it didn't do any good. Damned if I'm going to give them anymore of my money, it already costs almost $18.00 a phone call as it is. Bent over and screwed without even a reach around.

i totally agree with all the people who hav got ripped off. i made a payment a week ago and paid there outragous fee of 6.95 only to find out my loved one got moved to a different facility the next day. so im out 6.95 because of the stupid fee. com on giv me a beeak if i wulda known he was being moved the next day i wuldnt have put no mor money in the account...right? i am really disgusted with this company. i wuld love for some one to bring his to the media they wuld love it. maybe they wuld refund us some money back...(good joke).

Sorry you all are having such a hard time with this company. I have been using them for 3 years now and i don't have even ONE complaint. Not one. Not quite sure what to to tell you other than good luck finding another service out there that REALLY ISNT A RIP OFF!

It is amazing how much people think they even deserve to get calls from someone locked up in prison. When you are crying about a 6.95 fee why don't you let us know why they were arrested?

I'm working for CBS and if you want to contact to the manager in charge of the building located on Mexico city, hes name is: CARLOS SILVA, togheter with Mr. AMEZCUA, the number to contact them directly its: [protected].

All of you located on U.S. Should be dial this numbers [protected]-[protected], please tell him to fix the system or get some of the millions of dollar' what they earn with your paymnts, if they can't do something for you, you will understand what this company doesnt care their customers

Frustrated CBS Rep. is a complete jerk and I've cut and pasted their mean, nasty comment and sent it to CBS. It's none of their business what anyone is doing in jail and they have a rotten attitude. If this is how they treat their customers, they don't need to be working with the public... they're just too mean spirited. I'm sure this person must think they're perfect in every way to have the right to judge others so harshly.

the dropped calls are designed to get rich off customers what a ponzi scheme correctional billing has going they should be in jail for that.

They're ###ing mexicans what can you expect? no wonder they get shot and killed. and i'm completely happy they should be exterminated

This company is a *** joke! I haven't been able to receive calls since 2/9, multiple calls to the customer service line, they continue to assure me the line is clear, but they will send a request to tech service to check line-please call back in 24 hrs. right! thats why I'm getting letters from my friend who says he gets arecording saying the line is blocked everytime he calls. So I have to start all over again, repeat what is happening, only to be told the same thing-line is clear...oh, what about hiring operators that speak Englih well, can be understood after all this is the United States! Hate this company but they have a monopoly basically.

When you use the western union option on cbs they charge 11.95, which does not include the money for the actual calls. If i had to only pay 6.95 i would be jumping for joy. it is hard when your loved one is gone i think that is punishment enough. But we all know that system is designed for one thing, and justice is not always the case...

hahahahah now thats funny u mentioned before mexicans get shot and killed, well its actually true, most of your relatives shoot and kill a lot of people including mexicans, oh and also, if your son got moved from one facility to another it's not the damn company's fault, the correctional facility itself does this, and when you make a payment to that company they TELL you there is a processing fee of $6.95 THAT OBVIOUSLY MEANS THE MONEY ISN'T GOING TO YOUR OWN ACCOUNT IT'S GOING TO THE COMPANY BECAUSE YOU ARE USING THEIR PAYMENT SYSTEM DAAH, and a reply to that last comment: just get a pre-paid debit card if w.u. charges you so much you should look for other alternatives, in my opinion these people should get some common sense, it's pretty obvious we live in a capitalist society, they should be already used to the idea that if they don't like the service they should look for another, probably calling cards, mail, etc, these people just want to complain about ridiculous things, you just want to be communicated with your raping/murdering/stealing/fraudulent crap of society, these calls are not coming from a coffee shop so get used to the idea they will be expensive and obviously even more if thats a long distance/collect call.

You know what people i work at cbs, and you guys are complaining about [censor], if your pymnts are being declined is either that: you are poor, you have bad customer history with your bank, you try to make 2 pymnts within 24 hrs or you deposit the exact amount of 25 + 6.95 and when you do that you dont realize that our system also take one additional dollar to proof there is money and we return it within 24 hrs or also if you buy a prepaid visa or master card and you dont call the 1-800 # on the back to register a name and mailing address also its not guaranteed to wor its a 50-50 chance, or could be you live in the ghetto.. Ok now let talk about "30 MINUTES ON HOLD" woah woah woah people i dont know if you work at an office or a restaurant or if your manager of something but obviously you do not know what a call center is, our offices are located in mexico city and our corporate office in dallas texas i personally work in mexico city (yes im a beaner and fencejumper dear racist people) in the afternoon we dont have a lot of agents available it would be like 50 60 tops, now imagine having to receive call after call during all [censor]ing day! So dont call saying omg your [censor]ing system sucks ive been on hold for blah blah blah! because if you do i literally hang up the call so next time hopefully you call with a more friendly argument, i understand that if you have any issues you call frustated but also understan our perspective we dont stop taking calls, its not easy, i guaratee you; if you call ASKING FOR HELP the call will be easier faster we wont place you on hold just to rest for a while and we may even provide courtsey credit! So yeah now let me talk about DISCONNECTED CALLS there are quite many things why a call may be diaconncted or even blocked, belive me the main one is phone features, just by the fact of having features may disconnect or block the calls believe me i understand that nowadays all #s may have features, but if you are very stubborn to remove them, im sorry but we cant help you. Also avoid using speaker, pressing #s or having a lot of noise on the background, also the issue is taht we only credit the calls for 1 minute! Dont even bother calling if the call lasted longer, just go to the dispute center in our website, also dont bother requesting a supervisor he wont be able to help its company policies. Also dont call complaining ohhh lordy omg what a ripoff tye automated system didnt tell me that! Ohh imma sue you ohhh! Talk to a [censor]ing live agent to get all info, even if takes too long, and dont [censor]ing call for stupid [censor] to reduce flow of the calls please our system doesnt update on reql time what part of that dont you underatand! Dont threat representativea with a lawyer or the better business burau we dont care you dont sacre us wih that, even if you call the bbb tht wont help believe me just call the fcc to [censor] about rates, also that wont help. Well thats some stuff about criminal billing services if you have something to ask me or if you jut want to tell me go [censor] yourself you goddamn mexican, please feel free to do so ill be on the lookout for this blog. P.S i honestly appreciate customers who are nice and let us explain things and offer solutions.

YES, i HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THEY CLAIM IT'S THE PHONES AT THE FACILITIES AND IT MAY BE SOMETIMES BUT THEIR SYSTEM IS NOT GOOD. WHAT IS SO BAD ABOUT THIS IS THEY HAVE A MONOPOLY ON THE PHONES AND YOU CAN'T GO WITH ANYONE ELSE. I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO KEEP GIVING MONEY AND IT NOT GOING TO MY MAN.

what a bitter man you must have the little man syndrome wink wink little peepee huh?

idk4969 that little man syndrome was for you freaK !

I have been a customer of this sad company. I been having the worse time with them. They claimed that I have 3 way calls. Which I did have any calls coming in at that time. Then they said that the background noise is making the calls being disconnected. I have never had such a hard time with any comany like I had with this one. I had a number of letters faxed to them about the diconnected calls and I still have not had this problem corrected. This had been going on since march/2010. I can't go to another company because this company has all the phones in the jail. So I am stuck.

I set up an account last night and put $45.00 on it.. My boyfriend called this morning and we talked for a half hour. How many calls will this $45.00 actually get me?

This company and it's predecessors have a long history of ripping people off with charges for calls never completed, charges for calls cut off yet charged for the full time, for unreasonable fees and unauthorized charges to credit/debit cards as well as phone bills. A 15 minute call costing $17.77 breaks down to $1.18 per minute which is highway robbery. Reminds me of the thieves of old who stopped people on the road and demanded money to let them pass. Heck, I can go down the street and put 4 quarters in a pay phone and talk anywhere in the country for 4 minutes, and that covers all the costs for the pay phone, billing and the call itself and the company is still making obscene profits. Correctional Billing Services unfortunately has a immoral but unfortunately almost legal monopoly in many institutions in 44 states but there are some options. A non-profit organization helping inmates and their families has posted some alternate options to these thieves. See their website at http://phoneoptions.operationreentry.org Spread the word.

This company is known for atrocious customer service and fraudulent business practices. There are thousands of complaints online and with the Better Business Bureaus about them and their precedent companies. Remember the bumper stickers people were putting on phone company trucks years ago? They had the Ma Bell logo and said "We don't care. We don't have to!" That applies very much to this company. Not only do they operate in an immoral price gouging manner, apparently they are accountable to no one. One non-profit group that works to help inmates and their families has posted some alternate options, check it out at http://phoneoptions.operationreentry.org Spread the word.

This is so very true, if its securus. Any one out there have the time to file a class action lawsuit? I'm in...

They refuse to pay my refund and I can't talk to anyone. The phone system says my phone number doesn't exist. Their phone system is the pits...cannot get anyone to talk to. Just go round and round. I am owed a refund and still haven't seen it. Their e-mail address is non-working. Are they out of business? I have spent several hours re-dialing and going through all the prompts...to no avail. If anyone can help with another phone number that would be great. I want my money back, NOW. They are avoiding the refund.

I am very disgusted with this company. since my fiance has been in the institution we have lost more money with this company than calls we have had. it cuts your calls claiming third party calls and i am on my bluetooth 98% of the times and not even in reach of my phone. the static and electronic sounds are terrible and they give you 10 second blank spots where i can hear him but he cant hear me and then they want you to go thru too much to get your credits back. it is very easy for them to take your money though. the saddest part about this is there is no other company to use and customer service is a blur with this company. my use for them will be over soon. hopefully they will get this together.

This company is making a fortune off of the family of inmates they claim that they will refund you well that is BS. my fiance and I were cut off of our phone calls 6 times in a row one night and then the next 4 times in a row but when I addressed this company about the situation they told me it had to be because of either third party calls or I placed him on hold. And then because our calls did actually last more then 7 minutes they will not refund the money to the account so they made .87 cents on each one of those calls that are supposed to be 30 minute calls and will not take responsibility for their system being at fault. I wish there was another company to go through in order to talk to your loved ones. It is bad enough that our justice system puts them there but then the only company you can deal with to speak to them ***...

Every day at least three to for times a day my call is diconnected in the first couple of mins for no reason..its 2010 n their computerized system cant tell the difference between a beep n the *** cord movin..whenever I call they tell me to fill out the form, fill out the form like I have the time or money to wait on their decision..

its not my fault their system *** n so do the jail phones..I spend at least $35 every two days on this *** phone just to be able to talk to my husband..someone needs to investigate them n fix whatever it is thats wrong..

Near the holidays last year I received calls that were labeled as free from an inmate at a Texas prison. I later received a bill even though the inmate was charged. A call came through yesterday morning from the inmate and we spoke. He tried calling last night and the message I got is that he hung up and he was told my number is restricted