Paying for Phone Calls from Pontiac: Friends & Family Prepaid vs. Commissary Minutes
Staying connected with someone at Pontiac Correctional Center comes down to one key choice: pay for calls directly through a Friends & Family prepaid account, or deposit money to their trust account so they can buy phone minutes themselves. Here's how each option works and how to get started.
Pontiac Correctional Center uses two payment methods for phone calls. With a Friends & Family prepaid account through ICSolutions, you fund an account on your end to cover incoming calls. With commissary-funded minutes, you deposit money into the person's trust account, and they use those funds to purchase phone time.
Quick way to choose: Go with Friends & Family prepaid if you want to pay for calls directly. Choose commissary funding if you'd rather the person inside control when and how they buy minutes from their trust account.
- Go to the ICSolutions IDOC setup page - This is where Friends & Family prepaid accounts are created for Illinois Department of Corrections facilities.
- Create your prepaid account - Follow the prompts to register your information.
- Add funds to your prepaid balance - Once funded, that balance can be used to pay for calls you receive from Pontiac.
If you run into problems with setup, funding, or call-related account questions, ICSolutions customer service can help. Call 888-506-8407 or email Customer@icsolutions.com.
Commissary-funded minutes work differently. You deposit money into the person's trust account using an approved method, and they buy phone minutes through commissary when they're ready. This option works well if you want them to manage their own phone budget alongside other commissary purchases.
- ✓ JPAY
- ✓ MoneyGram (receiving code 7364)
- ✓ Send2Corrections (service provided by Western Union)
- ✓ IDOC no longer uses GTL (ConnectNetwork/ViaPath) for deposit services
Illinois Department of Corrections started transitioning phone services from Securus to ICSolutions on February 3, 2025. The rollout is happening facility-by-facility. When Pontiac switches over, expect a one- to two-day interruption in phone service.
Had money on a Securus Advance Connect Friends & Family account? It won't transfer automatically when Pontiac moves to ICSolutions. Contact Securus at 1-800-844-6591 for refund information on any remaining balance.
The best choice depends on who you want handling the payments. A Friends & Family prepaid account through ICSolutions works well when you want direct control over the balance - especially if multiple family members are pitching in. Commissary-funded minutes make more sense if you're already sending money for other needs and want the person inside to buy their own phone time as they see fit.
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- ✓ Confirm the current setup steps and any costs directly with ICSolutions before you add funds.
- ✓ Save confirmations and receipts for any deposits you send to a trust account.
- ✓ If you have questions about call accounts, contact ICSolutions at 888-506-8407 or Customer@icsolutions.com.
- ✓ Keep the provider transition in mind: Pontiac’s switch to ICSolutions may include a one- to two-day phone interruption.
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