ChatterBank0 min ago
Prison phone calls - too expensive?
27 Answers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7470051.st m
An official complaint about telephone calls from prison costing seven times normal payphone rates has been made by the National Consumer Council (NCC).
The group says that half the calls made from jail last less than three minutes because of the high costs involved.
It has made a super-complaint about the issue to regulator Ofcom.
But provider BT says pricing is unusual owing to security and the government argues that cutting the cost would need a public subsidy.
Should prison calls be subsidised?
An official complaint about telephone calls from prison costing seven times normal payphone rates has been made by the National Consumer Council (NCC).
The group says that half the calls made from jail last less than three minutes because of the high costs involved.
It has made a super-complaint about the issue to regulator Ofcom.
But provider BT says pricing is unusual owing to security and the government argues that cutting the cost would need a public subsidy.
Should prison calls be subsidised?
Answers
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Before subsidising the calls, I would want the pricing checked out. It may be perfectly legitimate by BT, but 7 times more expensive does seem excessive.
If the research is correct, that those who are in telephone contact with family/friends are so much less likely to reoffend, then, pragmatically it would seem sensible to subsidise the call charges. This would seem cheaper than the cost to the victim and society generally.
If the research is correct, that those who are in telephone contact with family/friends are so much less likely to reoffend, then, pragmatically it would seem sensible to subsidise the call charges. This would seem cheaper than the cost to the victim and society generally.
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