How to Send Money for Phone Calls vs. Commissary at Philadelphia Prisons (including CFCF)
Sending money to someone in a Philadelphia prison? First, make sure you're funding the right account. Phone calls and commissary run on two completely different deposit systems — mix them up, and your loved one won't have access to what they need.
Philadelphia prisons use two separate systems. Phone call deposits go through AdvancePay. Commissary deposits - including at Curran-Fromhold - go through Access Corrections. These aren't interchangeable. Phone funds stay in the phone account; commissary funds stay in commissary. Pick the right one from the start.
Quick note on how calling works: incarcerated people get 10 free minutes per day. Beyond that, they can place collect calls or use their AdvancePay balance for additional time.
Plan on using a card. Both AdvancePay and Access Corrections require a credit or debit card - no cash deposits through these systems.
- ✓ Lobby kiosks at Philadelphia prison facilities (including Curran-Fromhold) let you deposit money in person.
- ✓ The kiosk deposit limit is up to $500 per day per incarcerated person.
- Decide what the money is for - phone calls use AdvancePay; commissary purchases use Access Corrections.
- Match the deposit to the purpose - if you’re trying to help them call you more often, add funds through AdvancePay; if you’re trying to help them buy basics from commissary, deposit through Access Corrections.
- Double-check before you hit submit - a quick pause to confirm “phone” versus “commissary” can save you from sending money to the wrong place.
- ✓ Save your confirmation number (or take a screenshot) right after you pay.
- ✓ Keep the receipt from a lobby kiosk deposit.
- ✓ Write down the date, amount, and which system you used (AdvancePay for calls or Access Corrections for commissary).
Tip: Deposit didn't post? Contact the vendor you used - AdvancePay for phone funds, Access Corrections for commissary. Have your receipt or confirmation number ready to speed things up.
- Gather your proof of payment - pull the kiosk receipt or your payment confirmation.
- Note the card you used - since deposits require a credit or debit card, write down the last four digits of the card tied to the transaction.
- Contact the right support channel - reach out to AdvancePay if the issue is phone funds, or Access Corrections if the issue is commissary funds.
- Be specific about what you expected - tell them whether the deposit was meant for calls or commissary and the exact amount/date so they can locate it quickly.
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