Harnett County Detention Center Phone Calls. How PayTel Works

How Calls Work at Harnett County

PayTel Communications runs all inmate phone calls at Harnett County Detention Center through a tablet-based system. The person uses a facility-issued tablet to place calls to numbers that have been approved in the PayTel system.

You cannot dial the jail and ask to speak with someone. The only way to have a phone call is for the person inside to call you. Your job is to make sure your phone number is set up and ready to receive calls in the PayTel system.

Step 1: Create a PayTel Account

Go to paytel.com and create a free account. Use your real name and contact information. The account is free to create, and you do not need to add funds unless you want to pre-fund calls on your end.

Step 2: Add Your Phone Number

Once your account is set up, add the phone number where you want to receive calls. PayTel routes calls only to approved numbers. If your number is not registered in the system, calls from Harnett County will not connect to you.

Add every number where you might receive calls: your mobile phone, a home landline, or both. Calls will ring on whichever number the person dials.

Step 3: Choose How to Pay for Calls

PayTel offers two ways to pay for calls:

Option A: Prepaid account. You add funds to your PayTel account. When the person calls, the cost is deducted from your balance. This is typically the most straightforward setup for families.

Option B: Collect calls or account on the inmate’s side. The person can use commissary funds from their account to pay for calls. Money deposited through PayTel (see the send money guide) can cover call costs.

Call (910) 893-0257 to confirm which payment options are currently available at Harnett County and what the per-minute rate is.

Messaging Through inteleMESSAGE

Harnett County uses PayTel’s tablet system, which includes inteleMESSAGE for secure text-style messaging. This lets you send written messages back and forth between you and the person inside, even when a phone call is not possible.

Cost: $0.50 per message sent or received.

How to use inteleMESSAGE:

1. Log in to your PayTel account at paytel.com.
2. Look for the messaging or inteleMESSAGE feature in your account dashboard.
3. Add funds to your account to cover the $0.50 per-message cost.
4. Type your message and send. The person receives it on their tablet.
5. They can reply from the tablet, and you receive it through your PayTel account.

Messages are reviewed and may not be instant. They are a good way to stay in contact between calls or if call costs are a concern.

Call Rates

The per-minute call rate for PayTel at Harnett County Detention Center was not confirmed from an official published source at the time this guide was written. Call (910) 893-0257 to ask what the current rate is before setting up your account. You can also find current rates after logging in at paytel.com and selecting the Harnett County facility.

What Numbers Can Be Called

The person can only call phone numbers that have been registered in the PayTel system. If your number is not in the system, the call will not go through. Make sure your number is added and approved in your PayTel account before the person tries to reach you.

PayTel may block certain number types (toll-free numbers, internet-based phone lines, and some VoIP services). If your number isn’t connecting, contact PayTel support to find out why.

All Calls Are Monitored and Recorded

Every call made through the PayTel system at Harnett County is monitored and recorded. This is standard policy at all county detention facilities. Do not share sensitive financial, legal, or personal information on facility calls.

Attorney-client calls may have different handling. The person should speak with their attorney about how to arrange a confidential call if needed.

How to Block or Unblock Your Number

If you want to stop receiving calls from the facility, contact PayTel support through paytel.com to remove your number from the approved list or temporarily block it. To restore calls, contact PayTel to add your number back.

Troubleshooting: When Calls Don’t Connect

If the person is trying to call but the call isn’t going through:

1. Confirm your number is registered and approved in your PayTel account.
2. Check that your phone is not blocking unknown or out-of-state numbers.
3. Make sure there are funds in your PayTel account if you are using a prepaid setup.
4. Check that the number you listed matches exactly what the person is dialing.
5. Contact PayTel support through paytel.com.
6. Call (910) 893-0257 if the issue persists and you suspect a facility-side problem.

Remote Video Calls

PayTel tablets at Harnett County may also support video calls. If remote video visits are available (see the visitation guide), they would run through the same PayTel platform. Call (910) 893-0240 (visitation lobby) to ask whether remote video is available and how to schedule it.

International Calls

If the number you want to receive calls on is outside the United States, contact PayTel support to ask whether international calls are supported and what the rate would be. Not all facilities allow international calls. Call (910) 893-0257 to confirm.

Tips for Keeping Call Costs Down

• Use inteleMESSAGE for day-to-day updates at $0.50 per message when a full call isn’t needed.
• Keep calls focused and brief if per-minute rates are high.
• Deposit money to the person’s account so they can use commissary funds for calls, reducing the burden on your prepaid balance.
• Check the PayTel app or website for current promotions or rate changes.