Randolph County Detention Center Phone Calls. How Pay Tel Works

How Calls Work at Randolph County

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

You can’t 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 during calling hours.

Calling Hours

Calling hours at Randolph County Detention Center are 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Calls cannot be made or received outside this window.

Step 1: Set Up a Pay Tel Account

Go to paytel.com/family-and-friends/open-new-account/ and create a free account. Use your real name and the phone number you want to receive calls on.

You can also call Pay Tel support at 800-729-8355 to set up your account over the 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.

If you have multiple phone numbers (home, mobile, work), you can add more than one. Each number must be verified and approved before it works.

Step 3: Fund the Account

Calls cost money per minute. You have two options:

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 JailATM account. If they have money on their account, they may be able to pay for calls from inside. See the send money guide to add funds through JailATM.

Step 4: Receive the Call

Once your number is set up and there’s money available, the person can call during the 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM window. Pay Tel will play an automated message identifying the call as coming from Randolph County Detention Center. Follow the prompts to accept.

Tablet Messaging Through inteleMESSAGE

Inmates at Randolph County Detention Center have access to Pay Tel tablets. These tablets allow secure text-based messaging through inteleMESSAGE by Pay Tel.

Cost: $0.50 per message.

Important: The inmate must send the first message to start the conversation. You can’t initiate messaging from your end.

To receive messages, you may need to set up an account on the Pay Tel messaging platform. Contact Pay Tel at 800-729-8355 for guidance on how to get started with inteleMESSAGE.

The tablets also give inmates access to education programs and entertainment in addition to messaging and calls.

Call Monitoring and Recording

All calls at Randolph County Detention Center are monitored and recorded. This is standard for county jails. Calls with attorneys may have different handling under attorney-client privilege rules. Contact the facility at (336) 318-6625 to ask about attorney call procedures.

What Numbers Can Be Called

The person can only call approved numbers that are set up in the Pay Tel system. If your number isn’t in the system, the call won’t connect. Make sure your number is correctly entered before expecting a call.

Pay Tel may block certain number types, including some VoIP numbers or numbers that have been flagged. If calls aren’t going through, call Pay Tel support at 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’s a balance available, either in your Pay Tel account or the person’s JailATM account.
3. Ask the person to confirm they’re dialing the right number.
4. Contact Pay Tel support at 800-729-8355.
5. Some mobile carriers block calls from correctional facilities. Call your carrier to check.
6. Call the facility at (336) 318-6625 if the problem continues.

How to Stop Receiving Calls

Log in to your Pay Tel account at paytel.com and remove or block your number. You can also call Pay Tel support at 800-729-8355 to request a block.

Call Rates

Pay Tel’s per-minute rates are not published in the verified data for this page. Log in to your account at paytel.com or call 800-729-8355 to see current rates. Rates can vary based on call type and the funding method used.

Staying Connected Between Calls

Between calling windows, tablet messaging through inteleMESSAGE is a good option for staying in touch. If you want to send a physical letter, see the mail and photos guide for the correct address and rules.