Get answers to your frequently asked questions.

First-Time Visitors

What is PCS Daily Dial™?

PCS Daily Dial™ is a way to pre-pay for calls received from inmates at correctional facilities managed by Public Communications Services, Inc. Friends and families of inmates can deposit money into a prepaid calling account and control their costs and phone expenses.

Who is Public Communications Services, Inc.?

Public Communications Services, Inc is a recognized leader in the telecommunications industry, providing correctional facilities with payphone services. PCS Daily Dial™ is an exclusive product of Public Communications Services, Inc., designed to assist friends and families of inmates with a way to manage their collect call bills.

How do I sign up?

Sign up is easy! You can signup online or through our Automated Pay-By-Phone Service by calling 1.888.847.3206.

Who can use PCS Daily Dial™?

Anyone who receives phone calls from an inmate at a correctional facility managed by Public Communications Services, Inc. can use PCS Daily Dial™ prepaid calling services.

Do you check my credit?

We do not require a credit check to open an account.

Payment Options

What do I need to open an account?

We require your name, address, telephone number, email, the name of the facility where the inmate is incarcerated and a personal username and password that you select. You can open an account online or through our Automated Self-Service Pay-By-Phone Feature by calling 1.888.847.3206.

What are my payment options?

Payment options to set up your prepaid accounts include:

• All Major Credit Cards
• Telecheck
• Pay by Mail - via Money Order or Cashier's Check

PCS offers the following easy ways to setup and pay for your prepaid calling account:

1. Sign up online by clicking on the "Sign Up" button. You can pay for the account using any major credit card or your checking account.Note: All prepaid payment transactions (sign-up or recharge) conducted using our wesite will result in a $6.25 service fee per transaction.
2. Use our Automated Pay-By-Phone Feature by calling our toll-free 1.888.847.3206 number. You can pay for the account using any major credit card or your checking account. Note: All prepaid payment transactions (sign-up or recharge) conducted using our automated pay by phone feature will result in a $6.25 service fee per transaction.
3. Call our Customer Service Department at 1.888.288.9879 and speak to a live representative to sign up/recharge your prepaid account. You can pay for the account using any major credit card or your checking account. Note: All prepaid payment transactions (sign-up or recharge) conducted over the phone through a live operator will result in an $8.00 service fee per transaction.
4. Visit any Western Union counter nationwide to recharge your existing PCS Daily Dail account using a cash payment. Please Note: A Western Union service fee of $6.00 will apply when using this payment option. Click Here to find the Western Union Facility IDs for all PCS-managed correctional facilities.
5. Visit any MoneyGram Agent Location to recharge your existing Daily Dail account using a cash payment. Please note: A MoneyGram service fee of $6.95 ($6.25 at Wal-Mart Locations) will apply when using this payment option. Click Here to find the MoneyGram Facility IDs for all PCS-managed correctional facilities currently offering the MoneyGram payment option.
6. Mail us a Money Order or Cashier's Check to our PCS office. We advise customers that choose this method of payment that it may take 2-5 business days from the time we receive your check for the funds to apear on their prepaid accounts. When sending us your payment by mail, please remember to include your name, your phone number and the name of the correctional facility where your inmate is incarcerated.
   The address to mail us the Money Order/Cashier's Check is:

   PCS Daily Dial
   12021 Wilshire Boulevard, PMB #233
   Los Angeles, CA 90025

   Note: All prepaid payment transactions (sign-up or replenish) conducted via mail will not result in any service fee per transaction.

How much can I deposit?

1. When you pay via Credit Card or your checking account - You can deposit any amount in excess of $50 to your prepaid account.
2. When you pay via a Money Order or Cashier's Check - You can deposit any amount in excess of $25 to your prepaid account

How long do I have to wait before the deposit is credited to my account?

If paying by credit card or check online or through our Automated Self-Service Pay-By-Phone System at 1.888.847.3206, your deposit will be available for use within 4 hours. If sending in a cashiers check or money order via mail, it will take 2 to 5 business days to set up your prepaid account after PCS receives your payment.

Is there a service fee?

PCS charges a service fee for accepting payments via credit card or your checking account. This service fee is charged for the use of our website, pay by phone service and for the processing of credit card and check payments over the phone with a live operator.

There is no service fee charged on any payments (sign-up or recharge) made via Money Order or Cashier's Check.

Our service fees are as follows:

1. All prepaid payment transactions (sign-up or recharge) conducted using our website will result in a $6.25 service fee per transaction.
2. All prepaid payment transactions (sign-up or recharge) conducted using our automated pay by phone feature¹ will result in a $6.25 service fee per transaction.
3. All prepaid payment transactions (sign-up or recharge) conducted over the phone through a live operator will result in an $8.00 service fee per transaction.
4. PCS does not charge a service fee for any prepaid payment transactions (recharge) conducted via Western Union. However, these prepaid payment transactions (recharge) will be subject to a service fee of $6.00 imposed by Western Union.
5. PCS does not charge a service fee for any prepaid payment transactions (recharge) conducted via MoneyGram. However, these prepaid payment transactions (recharge) will be subject to a service fee of $6.95 ($6.25 through any Wal-Mart Location) imposed by MoneyGram.

How long does my account stay open?

Your account will remain open indefinitely until you tell us to close it or until you request a full refund.

Receiving Calls

How do I receive a PCS Daily Dial™ prepaid call?

We give you the option to accept and receive a prepaid call through our automated greeting when an inmate calls and you answer the phone.

How will I know I'm receiving a PCS Daily Dial™ prepaid call?

All calls are greeted by a pre-recorded message announcing "This is a PCS Daily Dial™ prepaid call."

Collect Call Blocks

I would like to receive calls from someone in a correctional facility, but there is a block on my phone number. Why?

Your phone number can be blocked from receiving collect calls from correctional facilities for several reasons:

1. Your local telephone company does not offer billing on collect calls
2. You have reached the maximum dollar amount limit allowed for collect calls
3. You have requested a collect call block on your telephone number
4. You are trying to receive collect calls on a cell phone or work phone

How can I receive calls from someone in a correctional facility if my number is blocked due to any of the above reasons?

Sign up for PCS Daily Dial™, our easy-to-use and convenient prepaid calling program, by either:

1. Calling 1.888.847.3206 to use our Automated Self-Service Pay-By-Phone System or
2. Sign up and pay online today

Support

How can I check my balance?

You have several ways to check your prepaid account balance:

1. Login to our website and check your account balance 24/7. There is no service fee charged to check your account balance.
2. Call 1.888.847.3206 to check your current PCS Daily Dial™ balance using our automated pay-by-phone feature any time.¹ There is no service fee charged to check your account balance.

What if I have other questions?

Please contact PCS' Customer Service Department for any questions or problems at 1.888.288.9879. To help serve you better we have extended our Prepaid Payment Center hours of operation to 4:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time seven days a week. For all collect call or billing related questions our customer service department can be reached Monday through Friday 5:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. pacific time and Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. pacific standard time.