Phone Calls from Hawaii Facilities: How GTL AdvancePay Works
Want to receive phone calls from someone incarcerated in Hawaii? You'll need to understand GTL and your payment options—particularly AdvancePay, which helps you sidestep common billing issues.
Global Tel Link (GTL) handles all inmate phone calls in Hawaii. Since February 1, 2018, they've managed everything - local, inter-island, mainland, and international calls. That means most questions about receiving calls and paying for them come back to GTL's system.
Payment Options
- ✓ Collect calls - charges are accepted by the person receiving the call.
- ✓ Prepaid (AdvancePay) - you fund an account ahead of time so calls can be billed against that balance.
- ✓ Debit - another payment option available through the GTL phone system.
Note: Exact rates and any fees are set by GTL, so the cost details you see will come from the vendor’s prompts and account information.
AdvancePay is GTL's prepaid collect calling service. The benefit? It lets your phone number receive calls from an incarcerated person without the restrictions that often block standard billing. Once you've funded your account, collect calls go through until the balance runs out.
When an incarcerated person tries calling a number that can't be billed normally, the system will offer you the option to set up AdvancePay. You may also get a one-time, one-minute complimentary call with instructions for creating your prepaid account.
- Call GTL to start your AdvancePay setup - use 1-877-650-4249.
- Create the prepaid account for your phone number - once it’s established, collect calls can be billed against your prepaid balance.
- Add funds when prompted - when the balance runs out, the system will prompt the account holder to add more funds.
Hawaii's GTL phone service supports three payment types: collect, prepaid (AdvancePay), and debit. To set up AdvancePay, call GTL directly at 1-877-650-4249.
GTL gives you one complimentary call - just one minute - to share the information you need to create a prepaid account. After that, you'll be ready to receive future calls.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Set up AdvancePay early - calling GTL at 1-877-650-4249 ahead of time can reduce missed calls.
- ✓ Listen closely to prompts - the system may offer AdvancePay when a number can’t be billed through standard methods.
- ✓ Use the complimentary minute wisely - that one-time call is designed to give you the details to create the prepaid account.
- ✓ Plan for reloading - when prepaid funds are depleted, the system prompts the account holder to add funds.
- ✓ Expect vendor-set pricing - rates and any fees are determined by GTL.
Caution: GTL sets the rates, fees, and account rules, and those details can vary - follow the prompts and account information you receive through GTL.
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