How to Set Up Your Phone Number to Receive Calls from Pendleton (and what to do if you're blocked)
Getting phone calls from someone at Pendleton is usually straightforward—until a collect call won't connect or your number gets blocked. Here's how each calling option works, plus the fastest way to get unblocked and start receiving calls again.
Calls from Pendleton work through three billing setups: collect calls, prepaid collect (AdvancePay), and inmate debit (often called PIN Debit). With collect calls, charges show up on your phone bill each month - assuming your line accepts collect billing. AdvancePay works differently: you fund a prepaid account tied to your phone number, and call costs are deducted from that balance when you accept a call. With inmate debit, the person inside pays using funds from their commissary or trust account to call approved numbers. Here's what trips people up: the incarcerated person must submit a Telephone List with names and phone numbers they're allowed to call - up to 20. If your number isn't on that list (or was entered incorrectly), you won't receive calls regardless of which payment method you use.
Who pays depends on the call type: Collect calls bill through your phone carrier. AdvancePay draws from the prepaid balance you fund. PIN Debit uses the incarcerated person's funds.
Why Blocked
- ✓ Your local phone company doesn’t offer billing on collect calls for your line
- ✓ You’ve reached the maximum dollar amount limit your carrier allows for collect calls
- ✓ You’re trying to receive collect calls on a cell phone or work phone
Note: Collect calling is often the culprit - not you. Cell phones and most workplace lines can't accept collect billing.
- Set up an AdvancePay (prepaid collect) account - Use ConnectNetwork to create the account tied to the phone number you want to receive calls on.
- Sign up by phone or online - Call 800-483-8314 or use ConnectNetwork.com to get the account started.
- Add funds to the account - You can deposit money online through your ConnectNetwork account or by phone at 800-483-8314.
- Use AdvancePay if you need calls to a cell phone - Prepaid accounts can be set up for all types of numbers, including cell phones, so this is the go-to workaround when collect calls won’t connect.
- Call ViaPath customer service to request unblocking - Dial (877) 650-4249 and ask the representative to remove the block on your telephone number.
- Know what happens next - ViaPath submits a request to have the block removed.
- Plan for the wait - Block removal typically takes 1–2 business days.
- Use the same number for calling questions - If you’re unsure which calling option applies to your situation, ViaPath can also answer general questions at (877) 650-4249.
Collect calls can't go to cell phones, office phones, or hospital numbers. If you only have a cell phone - or your landline doesn't accept collect billing - setting up an AdvancePay prepaid account is the cleanest fix. Prepaid accounts work with cell phones.
Quick Troubleshoot
- ✓ Confirm whether your local phone company offers billing on collect calls for your line
- ✓ Check whether you’ve hit your carrier’s maximum collect-dollar limit for the month
- ✓ Verify the number you’re using isn’t a type that can’t accept collect calls (cell/work)
- ✓ Have your phone number and any relevant account details ready before you call
- ✓ If you need the block removed, call ViaPath at (877) 650-4249
- ✓ If collect calls won’t work for your number type, set up AdvancePay at 800-483-8314
Tip: If ViaPath submits an unblock request, it usually takes 1–2 business days to go through.
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