Complaint Review: Correctional Billing Services - Evercom

Our daughter is incarcerated for 26 years for something she did not personally do. I have been horrified at the prices charged by this company not only to us, but an employee told me that Evercom/CBS control 85% of all correctional phone systems in the US. Who is getting all this money?

On our home phone, charges vary from 31 cents a minute to 75 cents a minute, with no logical pattern. My cell phone carries a $1.35 connection fee on each call plus 29 cents for the first minute and 19 cents for each additional one when our daughter can't reach us otherwise.

These charges are causing unimaginable hardship to millions of families and prisoners. Many of the prisoners are mentally ill, and many should not even be where they are.

We are seniors on a very limited budget, but it is important for our daughter's mental health and ours, that she be able to talk with us and with her husband and 3 children. Her case is under appeal, but many others are totally stuck there without hope. Voice contact with loved ones is vital for rehabilitation to have a chance.

This company is taking advantage of low income families who are least able to fight back and can least afford the charges. Where are our legislators and why is no-one paying attention to what seem to be criminally extortionary practices? Please speak out and do something.

Jane
Tucson, Arizona
U.S.A.