Who Pays for Video Visits at San Juan County Jail — How Charges, Accounts, and 'Pay Only for Time Used' Work
Video visit billing is simpler than it looks: whoever starts the visit usually pays, at least one account needs funds, and you're only charged for the minutes you actually use.
Whoever initiates the video visit is responsible for paying - as long as they have funds available. If you start the visit, you're the payer. If your loved one schedules it and you accept, their inmate account covers the cost (assuming there's money in it). When the initiator's account is empty, the charge can shift to the other person, but only if they agree to pay.
A video visit won't go through unless there's enough money in at least one account - either the inmate account or a Friends & Family account. You don't need funds in both. Just one needs to have enough to cover the visit.
Funds need to be available before the visit can happen, but you're not charged upfront. Payment is collected after the visit ends.
Even if both accounts have money, you won't get double-charged. Only one account is billed per visit.
Pay only for time used: You’re billed for the actual minutes the visit lasts. If you schedule a 30-minute visit but it ends after 15 minutes, you’re charged for 15 minutes - not the full 30.
GettingOut's "Visit Now" service is designed to avoid surprise charges. They advertise no late or missed-visit fees, no upfront costs, no connection fees, no penalties, and no minimum/maximum costs. The idea is straightforward: you pay for the visit time you actually use, nothing more.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Make sure there are enough funds in at least one place before you try to visit: either the inmate account or a Friends & Family account.
- ✓ If you’re the one starting the video visit, assume you’re the default payer unless the other side elects to pay.
- ✓ If your loved one is initiating (for example, they schedule and you accept), ask whether their inmate account has enough funds.
- ✓ If the initiator may be short on funds, talk ahead of time about whether the recipient is willing and able to elect to pay if the charge gets passed over.
- Confirm which account should be billed - Even though only one account will be charged, it helps to be clear on who’s initiating the visit (that’s the default payer).
- Take the visit knowing the charge happens after - Funds must be available for the visit to proceed, but the payment is collected only once the visit has occurred.
- Review the transaction after the call - Check that the billed time matches the minutes you actually used and confirm which account was charged.
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