Poll... Are you willing to strike on phone calls? How much do you pay monthly?

[dancer]

I think the higher the phone bill,  the more difficult it would be to give it up for awhile.   Think about what you could do with that money you are paying to Consolidated!   For those with inmates getting out,  you could save for his clothing, a car,  to tide you over til he's working,  put a down payment on a house,  or even start a business. 

[muah]

if i dont talk to him on a regular basis i get depressed!  Im sorry--but I dont think I would be able to committ to that

[Jims]

I would do it if I knew there was going to be HUGE participation. However, I don't think that would be the case. 100 inmates boycotting the phone wouldn't accomplish anything. And I'd sure miss those phone calls.

The problem is that the prisons are full of short-timers. Most don't give a rat's ass about high phone calls since they'll be getting out within the year. It would really take assurances from the majority of the inmates to not use the phone for it to work. And frankly, I don't see how we could even get the word out to them all.

[dcal5150]

we could tell the guys/gals what we are doing and have them tell everyone they know.  If we get enough, we could give it a try.  I'd be willing.  We could send them more $ too.  That could be an extra insentive for them  ^%$#

[dancer]

I  can VISIT more often because I only take a couple calls a month.  I'm going for just  4 days next month and it will cost $600 in gas,  hotel, tolls on 88,  vending machine food, and pet sitting. 

[kah2006]

I totally agree with you, Jims. I spend 300 to 400 a month on phone calls, so it would EXTREMELY hard for me to go cold turkey on them. But I would try it if I thought it would make a difference. But, like you say, if only a hundred people are going to do it, I don't think it would matter. And who knows if anyone, even myself, could stick to it.

[muah]

you are all so stronf and willing to give up calls!  I feel like a jerk saying no way.  I'm sorry!  I just know how my hormones get.  I get super sad. 

Now if a big movement did hapen and a significant number of people were involved I would go a month,  It would suck! and I would be on this site crying every day..biut I would.   

[JJL]

My phone bill got so outrageous I couldn't pay it until yesterday when I got my tax refund. It got up to $930 over a 3 month period. I was glad I could finally pay it, but damn, I could have flown to visit Jo 3 different times with all that money.

[Dazzler]

The New York Campaign for Telephone Justice boycotts MCI every 16th of each month.  They use only one day a month to stress their point.

Someone is listening in New York...especially the governor who has already stopped the $3 per call connection fee....

[dancer]

Believe me it is very hard not to be able to talk to R more often.  I also told my foster son I cannot take another call.  However I am an adult,  and I have huge bills to pay.  I wouldn't take a call more than once a week even if I DID have the money,  because  $40 a call is just outrageous.  I know,  from listening to friends,  the agony it causes them,  when they  start spending  $400 to $500 a month on calls.  I have sent them some money each month,  and then there are all the visit costs.  With E,  I spent money on his legal help.  You total it all up for a year,  and realize that's a huge hole in your budget!

[Favored23]

 :~)
WELL I SPEND ANYWHERE FROM 600.00-700.00 A MONTH ON CONSOLIDATED CALLS ONLY, NOT TO MENTION I GO SEE HIM 2 TO 3 TIMES A MONTH AND EVERYTIME I GO I LOAD MY CARD UP TO 40.OO-45.00 AND USE ALL OF IT IF NOT ALMOST ALL, I MUGHT COME BACK WITH A FEW DOLLARS IF ALL IS GOOD.  IT IS SO EXPENSIVE AND YES MY FINANCES ARE HURTING BECAUSE OF ALL THIS, BUT IF I DONT TALK TO HIM I'M NOT WELL.  I MISS HIM SO MUCH..... THE OTHER DAY HE CALLED ME 5 TIMESS IN A ROW...I KNOW WHAT YOUR THINKING, SHE'S CRAZY, BUT I MISS HIM SO MUCH AND THERE IS SO MUCH TO TELL HIM.  and he encourages me and loves on me and all that other good GODLY stuff.

help...................... ^%$#          (*%#         

[dancer]

Consolidated  should have a rebate program for their best customers!   Free minutes!!

[kah2006]

You know Dancer,that's a good point.  I use Western Union so much that they gave me a gold card so that I earn points for every transaction. I can redeem the points for money off of transfer fees or even for cash back. Consolidated should do something like this for their customers.

[Nelly]

I'd be willing to boycott.  You guys just say the word.  I enjoy my phone calls just as much as the next person however, if the petition doesn't work what other method could we use.  Even if we do like New York and do it just one day.  But I also agree it would have to be a collective effort not just a few people.  Also I agree with the other person we could send the extra money to the inmates I'm sure they would be happy to receive it.  Just grab your pens, envelopes and stamps I don't know about every one else but I enjoy getting my snail mail just as much as my phone calls.

[downtownchicago]

Whoops, I clicked to submit my answer before I realized I might also be able to indicate how much I spend per month on calls.  It's $500+ usually.  Can a moderator add a vote for me to the $400+ category ?

I would definitely boycott.  I love my daily phone calls, but a boycott is the quickest route to a fix.

[Stormy]

ok you guy's have me scared now! I just started my account today (basic $50 plan) and I thought we'd have 2 or 3 calls but now I'm thinking we'll only have 2 calls if we're lucky! I'd rather put the money on his books, at least he can get the things he needs that way. I'll have to see what he says.

[Susan]

If my daughter was still in, I'd strike for sure.

I used to pay about $110 a month...We had scheduled calls on Wednesday and Sunday. Luckily, we wrote a lot.

[Sister]

YES, I absolutely would strike!!!

My phone bill is usually anywhere from 150 to 200$.........And I thought my phone bill was high!!.........I don't know how some of you afford it!!!

[TinkerBella]

OK guys that would be the hardest thing to do , next to waking up away from him everyday! But if we beleive it would work and everone decided to do it, count me in1  OH MY GOD!! Y'all better be prepared for alot of venting on here , we'll all be nuts.
Kim

[dcal5150]

It would be sooo worth it tho' if we could get enough people to make a difference.  Even just the people on here with a few extras would make some kind of an impact.  IMO   Yes, lots of venting tho'   :-[

[colorblind]

The old days of just writing were a lot more romantic and we got so much closer from that than we do now talking.  We drift into stupid stuff, like playing Jeopardy against each other over the phone.  I would do it, maybe take just one call on the weekend.  I could send more money and he'd like that.

[Schrader42]

I would strike only if it would make a difference and if many participate.  My monthly phone bills are usually around $300 and that's with Consolidated!  Imagine what I could do with that money....that's a monthly car payment.

[Dazzler]

It sure is...and for some families it could be a month's rent.  Or a month of groceries.  I know some will say that poorer families shouldn't be accepting the calls....but that's unfair.  They should have every opportunity to talk to their loved ones also.  Only the rich should be allowed to communicate with inmates?  Absurd. 

[Katzmeow999]

I didn't put how much I spent either. When I was with AT &T/SBC..Or whatever they are calling themselves now...I was spending in excess of $200 plus for phone calls. But since putting him on punishment (don't ask!!! !!!). I've gone back to Comcast and will have the basic $50 plan and I let him know that I'm only accepting one call per week from him. But if you guys were to strike, count me in. I've had many issues with Consolidated and if they weren't the only company that handled Dixon's calls...then I'd tell them where they could go!!!

Count me in!!!

[Schrader42]

I just realized that we have 570 IPT members and only a little over 200 signatures on the petition.  Hello members, let's get this petition signed.   #&*(

[Dazzler]

And many of those signatures are NOT our members.  Many are from mailing lists that were sent to other organizations and churches.  Imagine if every member got fifty or a hundred signatures over the next six months?  Maybe we need a challenge here......

[dcal5150]

I wrote to my congressman here in CA.  We'll see what he says.  I like him and he's a pretty liberal democrat.   &*& So far, I haven't had any luck on the petition here.   :-[