Forsyth County Detention Center Phone Calls. Pay Tel Setup and Video Visits
Phone calls go through Pay Tel. Register at paytel.com so the person can call you.
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Overview
Phone calls from the Forsyth County Detention Center go through Pay Tel Communications. Calls are outbound only: the person inside calls you. To receive calls, register at paytel.com or by calling 800-729-8355, add your phone number, and fund the account so calls connect. You can also exchange messages through inteleMESSAGE for $0.50 per message and schedule remote video visits through Pay Tel Connect at paytelconnect.com.
Quick Facts
Phone provider: Pay Tel Communications. Register at paytel.com or call 800-729-8355.
Calls are outbound only. The person inside calls you. You cannot call in.
Add your phone number to a Pay Tel account and keep it funded so calls connect.
Messaging: inteleMESSAGE by Pay Tel, $0.50 per message. The person inside must send the first message.
Video visits: Pay Tel Connect at paytelconnect.com. Available any day, including Fridays.
Pay Tel tablets available at the facility for phone, messaging, education, and entertainment.
For rates and current pricing, log in at paytel.com or call 800-729-8355.
How Phone Calls Work
The Forsyth County Detention Center uses Pay Tel Communications for all inmate phone calls. You cannot call in to the facility to speak with someone in custody. The person inside must call out to a phone number that is registered on a Pay Tel account.
This means you need to set up your account before the person can reach you. Once your number is registered and the account is funded, calls can connect.
Step-by-Step: Setting Up Your Pay Tel Account
Go to paytel.com or call 800-729-8355.
Create an account with your name, email, and a password.
Add your phone number to the account. You can add multiple numbers (for family members, for example).
Add money to your account using a credit or debit card.
Let the person inside know you are set up. They will call you from the Pay Tel phone or tablet inside the facility.
Once your number is registered, calls from the Forsyth County Detention Center will connect to your line.
Pay Tel Tablets
The facility provides Pay Tel tablets to inmates. These tablets allow:
Phone calls through the Pay Tel system
Messaging through inteleMESSAGE
Video visits through Pay Tel Connect
Educational programs and entertainment content
The tablets give the person access to more contact options beyond just the wall-mounted phones.
Call Rates and Pricing
Rates are set by Pay Tel and can change. For current rates, log in to your account at paytel.com or call customer service at 800-729-8355. The rate per minute varies depending on whether the call is local, in-state, or long-distance.
Pay Tel will display the cost before a call connects so the person inside can see the rate before accepting the charge.
How Calls Are Monitored
All calls through Pay Tel at the Forsyth County Detention Center are monitored and recorded. Do not discuss anything on a call that you would not want heard by facility staff or law enforcement. Calls to attorneys may be treated differently under attorney-client privilege rules. Contact the facility at (336) 917-7600 for information about attorney call procedures.
inteleMESSAGE: Send Written Messages
inteleMESSAGE is a text-style messaging service through Pay Tel. It costs $0.50 per message. There are a few things to know before you start:
The person inside must send the first message. You cannot initiate the conversation from the outside.
Once you receive their first message, you can reply and the conversation can continue.
Messages are reviewed and may be monitored by facility staff.
Log in at paytel.com to read and respond to messages.
Messaging can be a good option for shorter updates or when a full phone call is not possible.
Pay Tel Connect: Video Visits from Home
Pay Tel Connect at paytelconnect.com lets you visit by video from anywhere, any day of the week. Unlike in-person visits, video visits are not limited by housing unit day restrictions and are available even on Fridays, when no in-person visits are allowed.
How to get started with video visits:
Ask the person inside to send you a video visit invite through their Pay Tel tablet.
Go to paytelconnect.com and create an account.
Submit a clear photo of your government-issued state ID and a selfie for identity verification.
Wait for your account to be approved.
Once approved, log in, find the invite from the person inside, and schedule a session.
Video visits are one of the best ways to see each other when in-person visits are not possible due to distance, schedule, or the Friday restriction.
What Numbers Can Be Called
The person inside can only call numbers that are registered in the Pay Tel system and approved by the facility. If a number is not registered or is blocked, the call will not go through. Contact Pay Tel at 800-729-8355 to add a new number or to troubleshoot a blocked number.
Troubleshooting Failed Calls
If calls are not connecting:
Confirm your phone number is registered in your Pay Tel account
Check that your account has a positive balance
Make sure the number has not been blocked (contact Pay Tel at 800-729-8355)
Try calling Pay Tel customer support for help
If your account shows sufficient funds and the number is registered but calls still fail, contact the facility at (336) 917-7600 to rule out a facility-side restriction.
Alternatives to Phone Calls
If phone calls are not working or you want another way to stay in touch:
inteleMESSAGE: Written messages at $0.50 per message through Pay Tel
Video visits: Schedule through Pay Tel Connect at paytelconnect.com
Mail: Send letters via inteleSCAN. See the mail guide.
In-person visits: Walk-in sessions three times daily except Fridays. See the visitation guide.
Families Also Ask
6 of 12 questions
Q
How do phone calls work at Forsyth County Detention Center?
Calls go through Pay Tel Communications. They are outbound only: the person inside calls you. Register at paytel.com or call 800-729-8355, add your number, and fund the account so calls connect.
Phone Calls
Q
How do I set up a Pay Tel account?
Go to paytel.com or call 800-729-8355. Create an account, add your phone number, and add money. Once your account is set up, the person inside can call your number.
Phone Calls
Q
Can I call the person inside?
No. Calls are outbound only. The person inside calls you. You cannot call in to the facility to reach someone in custody.
Phone Calls
Q
What does it cost to receive calls?
Pay Tel charges per minute. Rates depend on call type (local, in-state, long-distance) and can change. Log in at paytel.com or call 800-729-8355 for current rates.
Phone Calls
Q
What is inteleMESSAGE?
inteleMESSAGE is a Pay Tel messaging service that costs $0.50 per message. The person inside must send the first message. Once they do, you can reply through your paytel.com account.
Phone Calls
Q
Can I do a video visit from home?
Yes. Pay Tel Connect at paytelconnect.com supports remote video visits any day of the week. The person inside sends you an invite, you create an account, submit ID verification, get approved, and schedule your session.
Phone Calls
Q
Are calls recorded?
Yes. All Pay Tel calls at the Forsyth County Detention Center are monitored and recorded. Do not discuss anything sensitive on a call that you would not want heard by staff or law enforcement.
Phone Calls
Q
What if a call is not connecting?
Confirm your number is registered in your Pay Tel account and your balance is positive. If calls still fail, contact Pay Tel at 800-729-8355 or the facility at (336) 917-7600.
Phone Calls
Q
Can Pay Tel tablets be used for phone calls?
Yes. Pay Tel tablets at the facility let the person make calls, send messages, do video visits, and access educational content.
Phone Calls
Q
What if my number is blocked?
Contact Pay Tel at 800-729-8355 to check the status of your number. If the block was placed by the facility, you will need to contact the detention center at (336) 917-7600.
Phone Calls
Q
Can video visits happen on Fridays?
Yes. Video visits through Pay Tel Connect are available any day of the week, including Fridays. In-person visits are not allowed on Fridays, but video visits have no such restriction.
Phone Calls
Q
What are the alternatives if phone calls are not working?
Try inteleMESSAGE through Pay Tel, video visits through Pay Tel Connect, or send a letter through inteleSCAN. In-person visits are also available three sessions daily except Fridays.