Chirping is one of the Inmate Sales’ services that allows inmates to send chirps (texts) to their family members and friends through a device. Inmates can only send chirps on it without having access to any other apps or services. The chirping device is secured with a PIN that can only be entered by the inmate who owns it.
To use the chirping device and service, you have to add funds to an inmate’s account through the official website of Inmate Sales. If you have a plan to give a chirping device to your loved one in prison but do not yet know how much it costs, you shouldn’t worry since you can find the information in our post below. Let’s check it out!
How Much Does Inmate Sales Chirping Cost?
Inmate Sales Chirping service allows you to rent a chirping device to your loved one in prison. After receiving the chirping device, an inmate will get a dedicated phone number and can use it to send chirps (texts) directly to you.
Since it is a rental system, there will be a monthly fee for both the device and the service that will be deducted each month from the inmate’s account. If an inmate does not have enough to pay the fee, the chirping device rental will be charged.
The cost of chirping is around $4.00 for a monthly service fee that will be deducted from the inmate’s account. For inbound and outbound chirps, it will charge $0.10 each. The cost applies if you send chirps both inbound and outbound that are up to 160 characters. If it is more than that, it will be billed as an individual message.
Renting a chirping device and service means you have to subject yourself to agreements and device rules that make you responsible for the device. If the chirping device an inmate uses breaks while it is in your custody, you definitely need to pay $200 to compensate for the damage.
How to Use an Inmate Sales Chirping Device?
There are a series of steps you have to follow to use the Inmate Sales chirping device. Here’s how!
Step 1: Request for a chirping device
To use the Inmate Sales chirping device, you will need to make a request for this service first. If your request is approved by the facility, the chirping device will be delivered to the facility where your loved one is housed.
Step 2: Sign up for
After an inmate receives the device, they will be asked to sign the user agreement after first unlocking the device. An inmate should type his or her name exactly as it appears in the app. To make a chirping device last a long time, an inmate should charge it overnight, and they have to follow the facility rules since each facility will determine different rules for charging.
Step 3: Add funds to the inmate’s account
To start chirping, you have to add funds to the inmate’s account within 3 days. Within 3 days, an inmate can send 5 free automated messages each day. Those automated messages will then inform the person the inmate chirped, who is sending the chirps, and the facility they’re chirping from.
After that, it will require them to go to a direct link to the inmate’s account on the Inmate Sales website here. The website will then instruct them to use a credit card to add funds to an inmate’s account.
Step 4: Start sending chirps
After an inmate’s account is funded, they can start sending chirps by entering the complete 10-digit number in the search box at the top of the Chirping List. Then, tap to start a new conversation. If an inmate sends a free chirp before their account is funded, it will identify them, and the facility will be sent along with your first chirp.
It’s important to note that the chirping device cannot be used to chirp other inmates, witnesses, victims, or any other person blocked by the facility. The facility will then terminate an inmate at any time if they behave negatively.
Okay, that’s how to use the Inmate Sales chirping device. Through their chirping device, an inmate can access the Account View to see their phone number, account balance, review their transactions, send fund request messages, and access support options.
When Do You Have to Return the Chirping Device?
Since the chirping device is rented, of course, you have to return it later. When you are released from prison, you should return the chirping device. If you have the unused balance on the inmate’s account, you can make a request for a refund by calling Inmate Sales customer service at 1-877-998-5678.
However, the funds will be available if you return to the facility. Inmate Sales will try to get you the same telephone number since they cannot give you a new 10-digit telephone number. If you run out of monthly rental funds and cannot get your account funded again, you must turn in the device.
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Can an inmate block me from texting him and if so do I get a message from chips saying am block