Receiving Calls from Appalachee: Costs, Limits, and How to Set Up an AdvancePay Account
Phone calls are one of the fastest ways to stay connected — but the setup and costs can be confusing at first. Here's how AdvancePay works for Florida Department of Corrections calls, what you'll pay, and the limits that affect how often you'll hear from your loved one.
AdvancePay is a prepaid phone account that you - the person receiving the calls - manage and fund so your incarcerated loved one can call you. Since the call recipient pays for the call, you'll need to set up the account on your end before you can reliably accept calls. Think of it like loading money onto a dedicated calling account tied to your phone number. Once it's funded, it's the fastest and most convenient way to keep calls going without scrambling each time your loved one tries to reach you.
Under the GTL contract, calls within the North American Numbering Plan cost $0.135 per minute. To estimate a call's cost, just multiply the minutes by $0.135.
Calls max out at 30 minutes. Even if your balance is fine, the system will cut off the call once it hits that limit.
There's also a mandatory pause between calls. After a call ends, your loved one has to wait 30 minutes before placing another one. If you miss a call or it ends abruptly, this waiting period is why you won't get another one right away.
Free weekly call: GTL offers every incarcerated individual one free phone call of up to 5 minutes per week.
- Create your AdvancePay account through ConnectNetwork - this is the prepaid account you manage and fund to receive calls from an incarcerated individual.
- Add money to the account - since the called party pays for the phone call with AdvancePay, keeping funds available helps you avoid missed or cut-short conversations.
- Keep your account details handy - if something doesn’t work the way you expect (trouble accepting calls, payment issues), you’ll be able to get help faster.
If you need help with AdvancePay setup or support, call the ConnectNetwork/GTL family support line at 866-732-9098.
- Call the dedicated Inmate Voicemail System number - it’s site-specific and listed online.
- Follow the prompts - the system will walk you through leaving a message.
- Enter the inmate’s 7-digit PIN when asked - you’ll need that PIN to leave a voicemail.
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