DannyBoyinExile

I try not to be a chronic complainer, but I must admit that there are quite a few things to complain about, when it comes to the video visits from Securus. I mean, at one point I missed three of them IN A ROW, because they assigned me to a terminal that doesn’t even work. Of course, there may have been a problem with the terminal – but there has never been a problem with their billing department. We always get CHARGED for the visit, we just never actually receive it.
We have to notify Securus that THEIR equipment doesn’t work, and that it was physically impossible for us to get the visit. They then start the process of issuing a credit for a future visit, rather than simply refunding the money. In fact, RIGHT NOW we are still owed two free visits, that we’ve already paid for – and they’re not even charging for video visits at all right now!
Not to mention the fact that, when we attempt to reschedule a visit (which we have to pay for, because it takes months for the credit to be issued) we are denied, because “you can only have one video visit per month.” So we have to wait for the NEXT month, and hope for a better result, even though we never got a visit in the first place. I would almost call it a scam, except… Well, why WOULDN’T I call it a scam? They charge us for something that doesn’t work, and instead of refunding our money, they give us credit, for MORE of something that doesn’t work!
Every now and then it does work, though – (though not very often, for sure!), and it’s very nice to be able to see and talk to our families who otherwise may not be able to travel here in person. Not only that, they can also take screen shots during the visit, which is the only way some people are able to get any pictures of their loved ones at all. Visitation is THE only way for inmates to have their pictures taken, and many people simply live too far away to be able to utilize it, so the screen shots are a big advantage for them.
My wife takes full advantage of it, for sure. Sometimes my screen is flashing so regularly that I almost feel like a swimsuit model! (To which she would say, “You may FEEL like one – but you don’t LOOK like one!”) haha
If any of you aren’t aware of this, be sure to try it at your next video visit. (Screen shots, I mean, not swimsuit modeling!) It’s always more reassuring to be able to see (in person) how he or she is doing, rather than just reading about it in a letter. Just remember that if there is a guard visible in the background, you’ll need to edit them out before you try to send a copy of the pictures to the inmate, or it will be denied.
By the way – the screen shots aren’t guaranteed to make your loved ones any more handsome, but there’s always Photoshop for that! 🙂
So says DannyBoy.