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The phone company Global Tel*Link Corp. (GTL), which provides service to 1.1 million inmates in jails across the United States, was hit with a proposed class action lawsuit June 12. Lead plaintiffs Jacqueline Mills Jacobs, Gregory William Jacobs and Arron Jacobs allege GTL has participated in unlawful conduct for years, including unfair rates for phone services and providing correctional facilities with kickbacks for contracting through them. They are seeking more than $5 million in damages on behalf of themselves and all potential Class Members.
The plaintiffs claim that without a competitive market to constrain prices, “[i]nmates are literally a captive market for GTL.” The Jacobs Family claims GTL charged up to 100 times the normal market rate for inmates to make intrastate telephone calls. The GTL lawsuit states that “families of incarcerated individuals often pay significantly more to receive a single 15 minute call from prison than for their basic monthly phone service.”
GTL is currently the phone system provided in 2,200 correctional facilities across 48 states. The lead plaintiffs allege that GTL is in violation of the Federal Communications Act by exploiting their position to charge unreasonably high prices. They also claim that the prison phone provider gives 45 percent kickbacks to contracting facilities in the form of “site commissions.” The plaintiffs estimate that the kickbacks exceed $124 million per year.
In addition to the unlawful conduct charges, the proposed GTL class action lawsuit seeks to represent a subclass that alleges GTL was also in violation of Arkansas deceptive trade practices. According to the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Act, it prohibits taking advantage of consumers who are unable to protect his/her interests for various reasons including: Physical infirmity, ignorance, illiteracy, and the inability to understand the language of the agreement.
The Arkansas subclass portion of the class action lawsuit alleges that due to the deceptive trade practice violations of GTL, potential Class Members have “suffered as a result of unwittingly being charged to fund the secret kickback payments and pay for exploitive fees and charges.” The lead plaintiffs seek to recover financial compensation for damages due to the amount of the unjust and unreasonable charges imposed as a result of kickbacks.
If approved, the GTL prison phone provider class action lawsuit would be open to all Class Members who paid to use the telephone systems provided by GTL or its subsidiaries in order to make or receive an intrastate telephone call involving an incarcerated person in all U.S. states, except for the state of New Jersey, anytime between Feb. 16, 2000 to the current day. The Jacobs family expects thousands to join once the class action lawsuit is approved.
The Jacobs family is represented by Amy C. Martin of Everett Wales & Comstock and Peter A. Muhic, Edward W. Ciolko, Donna Siegel Moffa and Monique Galloway of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP.
The GTL Prison Phone Provider Class Action Lawsuit is Jacobs, et al v. Global Tel*Link Corporation, Case No. 15-cv-05136, in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.
UPDATE: The GTL Prison Phone Provider Class Action Lawsuit was dismissed on August 27, 2018. Top Class Actions will let our viewers know if a similar case is filed.
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82 thoughts onGlobal Tel*Link Class Action Alleges Unfair Rates for Inmates
My name is Brian, Global tel link has kiosks set up in DC jail in Washington D.C. under the name connect network. I have paid them money to be able to talk to my pregnant girlfriend who is 6 months pregnant and currently incarcerated, she is never able to make a call, when I called customer service GTL says that DSI is in charge of the service at DC jail that’s quote on quote their sister company but I paid my money through GTL’s kiosk at the jail and received no service. If there is a class action lawsuit against this company I would like to sign up they can’t continue to prey on the mistakes of our loved ones and the families that are trying to show support to our loved ones incarcerated this has to stop now anyone with info on a class action lawsuit or wants to start a lawsuit please let me know email me at brianacooper57@gmail.com
When I was incarcerated in CT for 3 years, the first 2 years GTL was the phone service provider. Phone calls to my family just over the state line in MA cost $22 for a 15 min call! The calls would drop often, and never even a partial refund. I always thought the price seemed ridiculous, but having never been locked up before I had no other relative experience to know this for certain. That all changed when in my final year of incarceration GTL was replaced with another service. Phone calls after this were less than $5… I really hope you guys are successful, because these people are horrible the way they exploit already hurting families.
My name is Mabel a hardy I am still using global Tele link I always felt the price was to high but that was the only way to keep in touch I would like thenews letter I live in TomsRiverNJ I received a letter but I acidently threw it out please send another letter thank you my address is 261 2nd ave toms river nj 08757] ThankYou
Please put me down for this lawsuit global tell link needs to be shutdown
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These people are crazy and very unfair… Horrible customer service and they are straight thieves. I accidentally spent $46 on Global Tel unlimited. Which was on the same site as Global Tel link. I just want to get refunded my $$$ and put it on the correct site so I can talk to my loved one. They are very deceiving and not straight forward at all. Whatever happens to this company… Money wise… They deserve it!! It’s sad that this is the only way you can talk to your loved ones in jail. Sad and needs to be changed and addressed as soon as possible!!!
Please put me on this lawsuit Larry Harmon inmate I’d number m38016
I have spent and still spend crazy money for phone calls though Global Tele Link/Connect Network so my boyfriend can call me.How do I get more information on this class action lawsuit? I don’t think it is right to charge all this money so you can only hear your love one’s voice for 20 minutes
I have delt with global tel links from 2008 to current and at this point I have spent thousands to have contact with my loved ones and my husband . i never thought the prices were fair . but when they are the only company you can go through to talk to you family you just pay the price . I always thought it was and is so unfair to charge so much , they fully take advantage of the situation.
Yes at the time my son was incarcerated in Arkansas..i lived there from 2009 to2014 then I moved to Benton Harbor Michigan..if there is a settlement.would I qualify?
My name is anneka spearman and I was using global Tele Link to talk to my son..from 2009 thru 2016. I always thought that the prices wad a RIP off..but that was the only way of keep in touch with him..i have relocated now to Michigan.was wondering if there was a settlement.would I still be elegible.and do you need my new address?