Families of Prisoners Support Group

This community is dedicated to families that have been disrupted by prison. Having a loved one incarcerated or having been incarcerated comes with its own unique challenges that require support and understanding. Join the group to find others who know what you're going through, and to seek advice or share your experience.

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phnxmoon 07/23/2012

Hello everyone I have a question. So I am trying to put money on my hubbys books and well I conferred with the website to make sure they accept gift cards because I don't have a checking account and I don't want to have to find some damned kiosk.

So I went and got the card and have tried since last night to get money to go through. I first contacted the site in case I was doing it wrong or something. They told me to wait as even though I just added money to the card it may not register yet. I am like ok. So I try again this morning and wouldn't you know the damned thing still declined it. So I called the card company for the gift card. They tell me the site has blocked my type of card. So I am like WTF!!!!! All I want to do is put money on the hubbys' books so that he isn't short of any as he is probably down to his like last 20.00.

So just wondering if anyone else has had this problem before and can help me out. Grrrrrr they make it so damn difficult. Thanks in advance

deleted_user 07/23/2012

I have been so frusterated trying to figure out phone..money on books..it is awful! They just changed the system here to Telmate and it is a breeze thank goodness! Is it a prepaid visa you are using? If you can't use the gift card or whatever it is where you want to use it they should have to give you a refund I would hope! If you paid for it with a debit card you can call the company and cancel the payment too in some cases..It is a shame they make it so tough..I hope it works out for you..

phnxmoon 07/23/2012

Thanks mskim. Still havent figured the damned thing out. It is so aggravating beccause I don't have a checking account and stuff I just thought it would easier to buy a mastercard giftcard and do it online. Ya know instead of having to track down a kiosk center. Still haven't visits either. He can't write because he is low on funds and stuff. I mean he isn't in his permenant location so it is just a pain in the butt. Unfortunetly I won't be able to return it i just wish I wasn't being jerked around with what could be wrong and stuff.

Suchaslife 07/23/2012

We dont have that system down hear we have to send a post order or bank cheeck to the prison with there info on it or drop it off at the prison.
Hmmm maybe give them a call and find out? If you can get a refund on the card use that money on the prepaid visa hopefully that will work.
Good luck sorry iam not much help on this one!

dalybird 07/23/2012

I don't have any advice on this, but as a former retailer I know that some of those loadable gift cards are not accepted everywhere, which is crazy.. I have added money to my sons account by using cash and also a debit card. The kiosk is right in the entryway to the county jail so I don't have to go far. I will be looking for this advice when he goes to state..You may have to get a money order and mail it to him.. I read the state doc web site yesterday and it said checks or money orders would be removed from their letters and added to the inmates account. Course that's here in NY so look on the web site for your state and you might find out if they'll do that.. Good luch with it phnxmoon.

phnxmoon 07/24/2012

Thanks ladies. It is tough and a pain in the butt. I think it is crap that not all of them work. I mean isn't that the whole point of buying a gift card. Silly peoples. They pretty much have transferred it all to an eft system pretty much. They accept western union as well but I would prefer to do the whole thing online or over the phone just easier. It makes it difficult though because I don't have a checking account lol. Ah well it comes with the process I guess. You live and learn lol .^_^

stacyanne1975 07/24/2012

My brother is in federal and they started accepting money through moneygram. You can go online and you enter 7932 for the code and than for the account put in their id # and last name with no spaces. It is easy and you can use a prepaid debit card. If your trying to send it to state prison, there is a spot where you can click that says send to an inmate and search for his prison. Check the prison website, it might tell you there code. that is how i found his code. Hope this helps! I agree, it is so much easier to do it online and that is how i like to do it.
BTW i know in federal if your money order is not from the post office they will put up to a 14 day hold on it.

phnxmoon 07/24/2012

Thanks staceyanne. That helps out a lot I will see if the one he is in will accept moneygram. I would think that they would because it is virtually like western union lol. How long does it typically take for them to be able to use the funds if moneygram works? Is it like the next evening? I will do some research and figure it out lol. ^_^ Will let you all know.

stacyanne1975 07/24/2012

If you do it durring the day it is on the account within 10 minutes. At night, It shows first thing in the morning and they email you to let you know it was processed.

phnxmoon 07/24/2012

Thanks staceyanne, apparently the jpay thing isn't going to accept my giftcard so I am over it. Lol my husbands' parents put money onto his account today with the help of me. Lol it is all good now though and now he can get stuff that he needs. So i am happy about that ^_^

deleted_user 07/26/2012

I use jpay ALL the time for money on books to sending emails depending on where he is at the ladies are correct money grahm is the best or I used a pre paid card I got at walmart,that works great for me.I have also used Visa prepaid cards, but Jpay can take up to 3 business days to post it to the inmates books. Good luck

phnxmoon 07/26/2012

Thank you giggles for the advice. I am fairly new at this so I am still learning the ropes lol Trial and error I suppose lol

deleted_user 07/27/2012

i use jpay all the time i use to make money orders but it takes about a month or more for them to clear jpay takes no more then two days i would suggest you use a prepaid master or visa card i use my master card that i got from doing my income taxes through H & R Block and you can add more money to it whenever you need to.

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