How do I prevent an inmate from calling me?

You may call customer service at 1-866-713-4761 (or 844-369-7776 for British Columbia facilities).

How do I leave a voicemail for an inmate?

Call our Customer Service phone number to leave a voicemail for an inmate.

  • Availability and rates vary by facility.
  • 1-866-713-4761 (or 844-369-7776 for British Columbia facilities).

What is the cheapest way to accept phone calls from an inmate in a facility that uses Synergy phone services?

Prices vary by facility, but setting up a Friends & Family Account is the cheapest way to accept a phone call from an inmate. Collect calls and Quick Connect calls (which only pay for individual calls) are generally more expensive.

Can I deposit money that the inmate can use to call any authorized contact?

Yes. With the Inmate Account, funds go into the inmate’s account to pay for phone calls (or other Synergy communication services that may be available at your facility) with a list of authorized contacts.

Can I deposit money that the inmate can use to only call me?

Yes. With the Friends & Family Account, you can choose to deposit funds that can be used to only call a specific phone number. Just enter the phone number you would like to use.

Introduction to Synergy Phones

You can get in touch with your inmate by phone in one of two ways:

  1. The first way is to set up an account in advance, so you can receive calls.
  2. Or you can wait until you receive your first phone call from an inmate and deposit funds when prompted to continue the call. Then you can set up an account later, after the call.

The easiest way to set up an account is to do it in advance at https://shop.inmatephones.ca/shop/. You can also set up an account in advance by calling Customer Service at 1-866-713-4761 (or 844-369-7776 for British Columbia facilities).

Follow these steps to set up your account in advance:

  1. Go to https://shop.inmatephones.ca/shop/
  2. Click your facility in the list below the map.
  3. For payment service, click Offender Phone Calls.
  4. Enter the inmate number (or booking number) of your resident. If you do not know it, or if there are more than one residents you want to contact, you can click “Deposit money for all calls to your number.”
  5. Complete the prompts.
  6. If you want the inmate to call only you, deposit funds into a Friends and Family Account. Just enter the phone number you’d like to use. You can check your balance at anytime by calling Customer Service.
  7.  If you want the inmate to be able to call anyone else, deposit funds into an Inmate Account. This allows the inmate to control their funds, and the ability to call any approved contact. If you want to know what the inmate’s account balance is, call Customer Service (1-866-713-4761 (or 844-369-7776 for British Columbia facilities)) and leave a voicemail message for the inmate asking them to call you back with that information.
  8. Once you make a deposit, all the inmate needs to do is check their voicemail, and once they know you’ve made a deposit, then they can call you. Your deposit is immediately available for the inmate to use.

What to do when an inmate calls:

  •  If you haven’t set up an account when you receive a call, you’ll be asked to provide credit card information to continue the call. Afterwards, you can go to https://shop.inmatephones.ca/shop/ and create your account.

More information:

  • You can also leave a voicemail for your inmate by using a landline phone to call Customer Service. The next time your inmate picks up the phone, they’ll hear your voicemail.
  • If you make a deposit that’s over $50, you’ll receive free voicemails that you can use for up to 60 days after your purchase.
  • If your inmate is transferred to another facility that uses the Synergy phone system, the funds on your account can still be used.

Do you offer monthly plans to allow the inmate to make unlimited calls?

Friends and Family may purchase calling bundles for inmates held in custody in the following Provincial facilities:

  • Manitoba
  • Nova Scotia
  • New Brunswick
  • Saskatchewan

To purchase a calling bundle, visit https://shop.inmatephones.ca/shop/, select the appropriate facility, then select “Call Packages.”

Pricing for call bundles is as follows:

  • 15 call Bundle – $19.95
  • 30 call Bundle – $34.95
  • 60 call Bundle – $59.95

*Taxes and fees are added to the cost of the bundle.  Taxes and fees may vary based on the province or territory.

  • Calls can be used for local or long distance calls to anywhere within Canada or the USA.
  • Max call length dependent on location, but is typically 20 minutes.  (Varies based on policies of the correctional centre)
  • Bundles expire after 30 days
  • No refunds on partial usage

See Also:
How to deposit funds  
How do I set up an account and what are my deposit options?