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A class action lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania federal court claims that Global Tel*Link Corporation (GTL) overcharges prison inmates for phone calls.
GTL and its subsidiary DSI-ITI LLC reportedly use their monopoly on the correctional facilities in Pennsylvania to charge “unnecessary and unconscionable” rates to inmates and their friends and family.
“The market rate for competitively priced prepaid calling cards is approximately 1¢ to 2¢ per minute for calls within the United States,” the GTL class action lawsuit claims. “Depending upon the country [sic] being called, Defendants’ rates are in excess of 20-30¢ per minute in Pennsylvania.”
In addition to unfair rates, GTL allegedly charges their customers unfair and undisclosed fees.
The GTL class action states that the company forces the contacts for inmates to open an account with payment information in order to use their services.
These accounts are allegedly charged for “administrative costs” which may be as much as 20 percent of the initial deposit amount. Contacts are reportedly not informed of these charges.
When individuals close their accounts, GTL reportedly charges them a $5 fee and forfeits their remaining balance after 90 days without use. Similarly to the administrative costs, customers are not informed of these terms and do not consent or approve these charges, the GTL class action lawsuit claims.
Lead plaintiff Linda Godfrey says opened a GTL account in 2018 and placed funds in the account so she could receive calls through the telemarketing company.
On one occasion, Godfrey was reportedly charged $10 on her credit card. However, this amount was allegedly subject to a $3.33 fee, leaving only $6.67 as a deposit amount.
On another occasion, Godfrey allegedly was charged $20 on her credit card but the amount was subject to a fee of $3.65 – leaving only $16.35 as a net deposit amount.
Despite allegedly using unfair techniques to force money from consumers, GTL reportedly maintains its monopoly on the market. According to the class action lawsuit, GTL maintains its position by suppressing other companies through exclusive kickback contracts with correctional facilities.
The GTL class action states that these contracts secure GTL the position as sole telecommunications provider while promising kickbacks under the guise of “site commissions,” free maintenance, and additional support for software programs.
“These incentives -the free maintenance and support services- result in huge annual savings to the Pennsylvania correctional facilities that participate in the scheme with the Defendants,” the GTL class action lawsuit claims. “As a result of the absence of competition, inmates and their families pay significantly more to receive and/or make a call from prison than for their basic monthly phone service.”
Godfrey seeks to represent a Class of Pennsylvania individuals who were incarcerated in a state prison who used a GTL phone system provided by the company.
Also included in the Class are individuals who opened an account with GTL to receive calls from a Pennsylvania prison inmate.
The GTL class action seeks compensatory damages, disgorgement, restitution, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.
Godfrey and the proposed Class are represented by Marc. H. Edelson of Edelson & Associates LLC.
The GTL Jail Phone Rates Class Action Lawsuit is Godfrey v. Global Tel*Link, et al., Case No. 2:19-cv-00533-NIQA, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
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151 thoughts onGlobal Tel*Link Class Action Says Inmates Overcharged for Phone Calls
My friend put money on my commissary account online at Chester county detention center and at the same time he put money on my phone account supposedly in South Carolina . Globatel didn’t bother to inform him first of all that they were no longer being used at my facility , just went ahead and charged him. Well obviously we couldn’t use the money so he contacted them for a refund and they charged him $12 to refund his money . I don’t believe that’s even legal , I wouldn’t mind some input on this email me at jendmeadows73@gmail.com . Thanks
Phoenix AZ can’t get a refund. On The app customer service request didn’t respond nor did any emails the phone number to call on my bank statement charges says leave a message then it says it has no options to leave a message. I finally spoke to somebody in East India who promised a refund it never happened so I called and was told to send my bank statement by email. But the email was phoney
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It’s 6.00 for a 30 min phone call in Tennessee I need in on this
we pay $6 for a 20 min call in pa
I have had to use GTL since 2012 and the rates were awful how can I get in this suit please
Vidio visits are a joke. Volume doesn’t work half the time, no refunds for dropped calls. Jpay ripping off because $70 for a tablet that works for 4 months, no refund . What a racket !!! They should be in jail. Lawrenceville cc in Virginia paid off legislators to keep the private prison open, Geo group owned. Look at the money they make. No wonder more people in prison for longer terms and no parole in Virginia. Its all about money. No justice.
I agree, same here in Florida and the video visits last only 5 minutes. I think a lawsuit should be filed in every state
We need this in washington state please. Clark county just changed to video visits on tablet with visit now but now the messages they charge me to send can’t be read unless they have money on their account!
My bf is in Lackawanna county prison and the video visit app doesn’t work for us but still 25cents is deducted each time we try.
The phone calls are expensive and when we ordered from Oasis for some commissary items were missing. He never received and a guard stated inventory and items go missing.
Same for Greene County Springfield MO, ive spent over a thousand or two in calls messages etc to be over priced not get calls or dropped calls video chats and have to drive and hour just to deposit it becausehis is cash only desposit they cant reset plus money their kiosk put on wrong inmates account still havent seen my money and connect something owned by them for 75 i never seen returned they still took money but his location doesnt support the connect one then why set me up and charge me my boyfriends only been in there since july 2020 this is stupid
Same for Greene County MO
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