How to Set Up a Pay Tel Account to Receive Calls from St. Johns County Jail

St. Johns County Jail uses Pay Tel Communications for inmate phone calls. Inmates can call out, but you can't call in - incoming calls to inmates aren't allowed. So the setup on your end is what matters. Once your number can accept Pay Tel calls, your loved one can dial you directly.

With collect calls, the person who answers agrees to pay for the call. At St. Johns County Jail, collect calling works for landlines - the recipient covers the charges. Cell phones are a different story. This jail doesn't offer collect calls to mobile numbers, so if you want calls on your cell, you'll need a prepaid Pay Tel account.

1. Start with Pay Tel - Use Pay Tel to set up calling for St. Johns County Jail, since they manage the jail’s inmate phone system.
2. Create your prepaid account online or by phone - Go to www.paytel.com or call 1-800-PAY-TELL and follow the prompts to create a new account.
3. Enter your information and set up your login - Pay Tel will ask for your personal details so the account is tied to you.
4. Add money to the account - Deposit funds using a debit or credit card.
5. Make sure your phone number is set up to receive calls - The prepaid funds are what will pay for the calls you receive.

Once your prepaid account is set up, calls draw from your deposited balance. You can add funds anytime with a debit or credit card. This matters especially for cell phones - since St. Johns County Jail doesn't allow collect calls to mobile numbers, your prepaid balance is what keeps those calls coming through.

• ✓ Check your Pay Tel balance before you’re expecting calls
• ✓ Add funds if your balance is low
• ✓ Make sure your debit/credit card information is current so deposits go through

1. Confirm the phone number on your Pay Tel account - Verify the number you want to receive calls on is entered correctly.
2. Check your prepaid balance - If there isn’t enough money in the account, calls may not connect.
3. Review your account settings - Make sure your account is active and set up to receive calls.
4. Reach out for help if it’s still not working - Contact Pay Tel for account-level issues; if you’re still stuck, contact the jail for additional guidance.

If the number you’re trying to use is a landline, collect calls may be an option. With collect calling, the person who answers agrees to the charges for that call - so the billing lands on the recipient, not the inmate.