So You Wanna Be on the Receiving End of a Call from the clink? Brace Yourself, It Ain't Cheap!
Let's face it, collect calls from anywhere are a relic of the past, but when it comes to jailhouse calls in Ontario, they're still the only game in town (unless your incarcerated buddy is James Bond and manages to rig up a cell phone with a spork and some chewing gum). But before you get that heart-warming "Hello?" ready, be prepared for a financial gut punch.
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| How Much Are Collect Calls From Jail In Ontario |
It's Not Like Calling Your Buddy From Summer Camp (Unless Summer Camp Was Run by Scrooge McDuck)
We're talking rates that would make a sailor blush. Get this: calls within Ontario can range from a whopping $0.475 per call (plus a possible connection fee) to a cool $0.28 per minute! And that's not all, folks! There's often a surcharge of around $1.00 slapped on top for the privilege of being yelled at for forgetting to send socks (it's a universal experience, trust me).
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The short version? A 20-minute chat could set you back a cool $30. Enough to make you consider taking up carrier pigeon messaging.
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So, How Much Does it Really Cost? (Because Let's Be Honest, Math is Hard)
Look, it depends. Buckle up for a wild ride through the world of collect call roulette:
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- Local Calls (within Ontario): Prepare for a range of $0.475 per call + connection fee to $0.28 per minute + $1.00 surcharge.
- National Calls (within Canada): Here's where it gets spicy. You're looking at $0.045 per minute (the good news!), but then there's that pesky $1.00 surcharge and an additional $0.28 per minute tacked on.
- International Calls (Calling Grandma in Florida): This one's a doozy. We're talking $0.05 per minute, but then you get slammed with the $1.00 surcharge and a whopping $0.60 per minute on top.
The moral of the story? Unless you're independently wealthy or have a side hustle hawking hand-knitted cat sweaters, buckle up for a potentially pricey phone call.
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FAQ: Because Let's Be Real, You've Got Questions
How to avoid getting hit with collect call charges? This one's easy: Don't accept the charges! The call won't go through unless you agree to pay.
How to find out the exact cost of a call beforehand? Good luck with that. Costs can vary depending on the jail and the service provider. Your best bet is to call the jail directly and ask.
How to save money on collect calls? There are some third-party services that offer cheaper rates, but be sure to do your research before signing up.
How to convince my friend in jail to write instead? This might be your best bet. Letters are way cheaper (and you get a cool prison pen pal story out of it!).
How to win the lottery so I can afford these ridiculous phone charges? We can all dream! But seriously, if you do win the lottery, maybe send your incarcerated friend a care package (and a lawyer).
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