Why Your Phone Number Might Be Blocked for Inmate Calls — And How to Fix It

Your local phone company may not have a billing agreement with SCDC's inmate phone provider. Without that agreement, collect calls can't be added to your regular phone bill - so the system blocks calls until you set up another payment method. Not sure if your carrier accepts these calls? SCDC's inmate phone FAQ lists local phone companies that may allow collect calls on your bill. The list changes weekly, so check the current version if your service suddenly stops working.

Your billing history matters too. If you're past due on your phone bill, have unpaid long-distance charges, or your service was disconnected in the past, you may be blocked from receiving inmate calls. Even if you're current now, older issues can still trigger restrictions until they're cleared up.

Need to restore calls - or stop them from coming in? Contact the phone vendor at 1-866-230-7761. You can also block calls directly when one comes through. The automated system gives you the option to block that specific inmate or all inmates at SCDC from calling your number.

If your phone company won't accept collect calls from correctional facilities, a PrePay account is usually the fix. This lets you pay for calls directly through the inmate phone provider instead of routing charges through your carrier.

1. Call to start a PrePay account - Contact 1-800-483-8314 to set up PrePay.
2. Ask about discounts - PrePay can include discounted rates on inmate phone calls, so it’s worth confirming what pricing applies to your number.

Next Steps Support

• ✓ Call 1-866-230-7761 if your number is blocked (or if you want it blocked).
• ✓ Call 1-800-483-8314 to set up a PrePay account (and ask about discounted rates).
• ✓ Write down the date/time you called, who you spoke with, and any confirmation or reference number you’re given.