AdvancePay vs Debit: How to Set Up Phone Service for Someone at Huron Valley Women's Correctional Facility

Huron Valley uses GTL for phone service, and there are two ways to handle payment. With AdvancePay, you set up a prepaid account linked to your phone number. When she calls that number, the cost comes out of your balance. With Debit, she buys minutes through the facility and uses them to call out - so she controls the funding and spending herself.

AdvancePay is GTL's prepaid collect option. Set it up through GTL's web portal or by calling them directly. Once your account is active and funded with your phone number registered, calls can start coming through.

Here's the key thing: AdvancePay only covers calls to numbers you've registered on your account. When she calls one of those numbers, the cost deducts from your balance. If she calls a different number, your AdvancePay funds won't apply to that call.

• ✓ If you fund AdvancePay by mail, plan for a $25 minimum payment.
• ✓ Mail payment to: AdvancePay Service Department, P.O. Box 911722, Denver, CO 80291-1722.
• ✓ Include your name, the name of the correctional facility where the prisoner is incarcerated, and your phone number.

Debit calling puts her in control. She purchases minutes through the facility's disbursement process and uses them to call whoever she wants. This works well if she prefers managing her own phone budget, or if multiple people will be receiving calls and you don't want everything funneling through one outside account.

GTL's posted rate is $0.0735 per minute (effective October 1, 2023). That's the base rate before taxes and fees. International calls may include additional termination charges depending on the destination.

Steps Checklist

• ✓ Set up an AdvancePay account through GTL’s web portal or by calling GTL, then add funds so your registered phone number(s) can receive calls.
• ✓ If you’re funding by mail, meet the $25 minimum and include your name, the facility name where the prisoner is housed, and your phone number with the payment.
• ✓ If you want the prisoner to manage calling costs from inside, ask them about buying Debit minutes through the institutional disbursement process.

1. Call GTL customer service - Use 855-466-2832 for help with calling options, account setup, or payment issues.
2. Contact the facility for prisoner-specific questions - For questions tied to a specific prisoner (or issues like property or visiting grievances), reach out to the facility where the prisoner is housed.
3. Use MDOC Central Office if you need a general MDOC contact - The Central Office number listed is 517-335-1426.