Guilford County Detention Center Phone Calls. How Pay Tel Works

How Calls Work at Guilford County

Pay Tel Communications handles all inmate phone calls at Guilford County Detention Center. The person uses a jail phone to call you through the Pay Tel system. Calls connect only to numbers that have been approved and set up in the Pay Tel system.

You cannot dial the jail’s main number and ask to speak with someone. The only way to have a phone conversation is for the person inside to call you.

Step 1: Set Up a Pay Tel Account

Go to paytel.com and create a free account. Use your real name and the phone number you want to receive calls on.

If you prefer, call Pay Tel support at 1-800-729-8355 (1-800-PAYTELL) to set up your account by phone.

Step 2: Add Your Phone Number

Inside your Pay Tel account, add the phone number you want the person to call. The number must be linked to your account before they can reach you through the jail phone system.

Step 3: Fund the Account

Calls cost money per minute. You have two options for paying:

Option A: Fund your Pay Tel account. Add a prepaid balance at paytel.com. When the person calls your number, the cost comes out of your account.

Option B: The person pays from their commissary account. If they have money on their account from an InmateCanteen deposit, they may be able to pay for calls from inside. See the send money guide to add money to their account.

Step 4: Receive the Call

Once your number is set up and there is money available, the person can call during their phone access time at the facility. The call connects to your phone number. Pay Tel may play an automated message identifying the call as coming from a Guilford County Detention Center inmate. Follow the prompts to accept.

Tablet Messaging

In addition to phone calls, inmates at Guilford County Detention Center have access to tablets for secure messaging. The person can send and receive text-based messages through the tablet system.

To exchange messages, you may need to set up an account through the tablet messaging platform associated with the facility. Contact Pay Tel at 1-800-729-8355 for guidance on the messaging system.

Tablet messages are a good option when phone access is limited or when you want to stay connected without waiting for a call.

Call Monitoring and Recording

All calls at Guilford County Detention Center are monitored and recorded. This is standard practice for county detention facilities. Calls with attorneys may be handled differently under attorney-client privilege rules, but confirm this with the facility directly.

What Numbers Can Be Called

The person can only call approved numbers that are registered in the Pay Tel system. If a number is blocked or not recognized, the call will not connect. Make sure your number is correctly entered in your Pay Tel account.

Pay Tel may block certain types of numbers, including some VOIP numbers or numbers that have been flagged. If calls are not connecting, call Pay Tel support at 1-800-729-8355 to check whether your number has any restrictions.

If Calls Are Not Connecting

Try these steps:

1. Confirm your number is correctly entered in your Pay Tel account
2. Check that there is a balance available in your account
3. Ask the person to confirm they are dialing the right number
4. Contact Pay Tel support at 1-800-729-8355 for troubleshooting
5. Some mobile carriers block calls from correctional facilities. Call your carrier to ask if this is the case

If you cannot resolve the issue, call the facility at (336) 641-2700 for assistance.

How to Block or Remove a Number

If you want to stop receiving calls, log in to your Pay Tel account at paytel.com and remove or block your number. You can also contact Pay Tel support at 1-800-729-8355 to request a block.

Call Rates

Pay Tel’s per-minute rate for calls at Guilford County Detention Center is not published in the verified research data for this page. Contact Pay Tel directly at 1-800-729-8355 or log in to your account at paytel.com to view current rates. Rates can vary based on call type (local, long distance) and the funding method used.

Staying Connected Between Calls

Between phone access windows, tablet messaging is an option for staying in touch. If you want to send a physical letter, see the mail and photos guide for the correct address and mailing rules.