Outrageous cost of prison phone calls

There is so much media attention given to predatory lenders preying on the vulnerable, I’m surprised no mention has been made of fees imposed by inmate service providers used by California correctional facilities.

When a loved one is incarcerated, their family also becomes victim of emotional pain and of the service providers of commissary and phone privileges. You want your loved one to call you, so you put $25 into a Legacy account. You”re charged a $5.88 fee. Do it online and use your credit card and pay a $10 cash advance fee! You’ve now paid $40.88.

Don’t use it all, no problem, Legacy will refund your balance minus a $5.95 closing fee! I suspect the ones taking the hardest hit are those who can afford it least – maybe they can take out a payday loan! Looks like a lot of money to pass out under the table to me.

This story was originally published June 16, 2016 at 10:42 AM with the headline "Outrageous cost of prison phone calls."