How can I receive collect calls from jail in Canada?

NOTE:  This is a personal blog, any views or opinions represented in this blog belong solely to the FedPhoneLine staff.  WE ARE NOT Psychologists or Therapy Professionals, all data and information on these blogs are for informational purposes ONLY.

All jail payphones in Canada can make outgoing collect calls.

The problem is that most households in Canada have cell phones but do not use standard landline phones anymore.

A 2019 study from Stats Canada found that 91.3 percent of households have at least one cell phone.  Cell phones are not able to receive collect calls from jails in Canada, which means that most inmates in jail are not able to contact their friends or family.

Get Collect Calls from Jails in Canada

There is an easy way for an inmate to accept a collect call from jail to a cell phone.  When you register for a FedPhoneLine number, you will receive a phone number which can receive collect calls from jail and then the FedPhoneLine number would redirect the call to you.

The inmate calls the FedPhoneLine number and the FedPhoneLine number rings on your mobile phone, meaning that you can easily receive collect calls to your cell phone from jails in Canada.

Jails such as:

  • Penetanguishene Jail
  • Toronto South Detention Centre
  • Toronto East Detention Centre
  • Windsor Jail
  • Maplehurst Correctional Complex
  • Beaver Creek Institution
  • Prison Bordeaux

How Much Does it Cost for a Collect Call from Jail in Canada

FedPhoneLine can charge as low as $1.50 for a collect call from jail.  If your friend/loved one is in a jail that is in the same city as you and you happen to be one of the few people who have a landline phone, then a collect call from jail can cost between $1.00 and $2.00.

If your friend/loved one is in a jail that is NOT in the same city as you then the rate may vary depending on how far away the jail is from you.

Phone companies charge a connection fee and long distance fee for collect calls.  The connection fee can be between $2.00 and $4.00 per call and long distance fees can vary depending on time and distance.  For example, we have some individuals state that a 20 minute collect call from Toronto to Hamilton costs between $7.00 and $19.00 per call.

If only one call is made per day, it would cost $210 per month for you to accept collect calls from a Toronto jail, such as the Toronto South Detention Centre or Toronto East Detention Centre.

Can Cell Phones Accept Collect Calls from Jails in Ontario?

According to NPR in their article entitle “Why Can’t You Make a Collect Call to a Cell Phone?” cell phone companies have very complex billing programs and there is not enough demand for collect calling to set up a way to bill collect calls from jails.

Since collect calling is getting less and less popular each year, it does not look like cell phone companies will ever accept collect calls from jails.

But FedPhoneLine is a great alternative and does not need any installation, you simply go online, register and within 5 minutes you receive a phone number which can receive collect calls from jails in Canada.