Residents of Her Majestys Establishments are charged 11p from prison payphones.

See: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/04/bt_prison_calls/

Maybe the former prison supremo who left to run 'Patientline' (the other 'institutional' provider) had something to do with this pricing structure??!!
With the latest reports of massive corruption amongst the prison officers (bringing in drugs and mobiles) it's a wonder the call-box phones are used at all!

Hi orsonkart

The article you cite says: “.....Prisoners rights campaigners have accused BT of profiteering on the back of the UK's prison population.     In a letter yesterday to the FT, the Prison Reform Trust notes the telco's recent consumer price cuts, .......”

“Telco’s recent consumer price cuts....”  ? ?

This illustrates how BT have been able to portray price increases as price cuts.
Line rental is the same.  
Call costs have increased by 10% for a typical 15 minute call.  Shorter calls have increased by more.

Excellent point KK.

No doubt thats why the package price cuts were announced on the 1/8/2006 so that they could  gain a  good media response ,and they hope  that the per minute billing, and 3p  setup fee which come come in on 1/10/2006 will be conveniently  overlooked. ::)

Thieves and criminals being ripped off by thieves. Sorry, but why should we care in this matter?
They ripped somebody off, somewhere along the line, so the extra tax on BT's profit helps pay for their free food and accommodation.
Surprising that they don't invoke some sort of human right act and get cable tv and phone put into every cell.
Screw them!

a very nice man wrote on Aug 5^th, 2006 at 12:39pm:

Thieves and criminals being ripped off by thieves. Sorry, but why should we care in this matter? They ripped somebody off, somewhere along the line, so the extra tax on BT's profit helps pay for their free food and accommodation. Surprising that they don't invoke some sort of human right act and get cable tv and phone put into every cell. Screw them!

Well said  ;D

a very nice man wrote on Aug 5^th, 2006 at 12:39pm:

Sorry, but why should we care in this matter?

No one asked you to care did they?  ;D

a very nice man wrote on Aug 5^th, 2006 at 12:39pm:

Thieves and criminals being ripped off by thieves. Sorry, but why should we care in this matter? They ripped somebody off, somewhere along the line, so the extra tax on BT's profit helps pay for their free food and accommodation. Surprising that they don't invoke some sort of human right act and get cable tv and phone put into every cell. Screw them!

Because innocent people sometimes get wrongly convicted and need to be able to communicate from within prison to prove their innocence? :o

I suppose you will be asking for them all to be castrated and having to be flogged three times a day as well then?  Seems you are not such a Very Nice Man after all.

I don't believe anyone should be ripped off at premium rates for making ordinary phone calls whether they are a prisoner or not.  And as I imagine that prisoners aren't allowed to have mobiles it seems only fair they should be able to call at BT Option 1 landline rates.

I also believe that prisoners should have the right to vote too which they currently don't enjoy.  Without it they won't even get MPs interested in any wrongdoing or corruption by prison officers.

I get the distinctly smug impression VeryNiceMan that you think you could never end up in prison.  You would be surprised VeryNiceMan what can happen to even seemingly the nicest of people.

Well said, NGM,  ".. there, but for the Grace of God......".

a very nice man wrote on Aug 5^th, 2006 at 12:39pm:

Thieves and criminals being ripped off by thieves. Sorry, but why should we care in this matter? They ripped somebody off, somewhere along the line, so the extra tax on BT's profit helps pay for their free food and accommodation. Surprising that they don't invoke some sort of human right act and get cable tv and phone put into every cell. Screw them!

Actually most of profit goes to the BT Fatcats and Shareholders, not the treasury but if that's the way you feel then I guess that's ok...  ::)

Even if it did go to the treasury do you think it would make a difference?  We have almost the highest petrol prices in Europe, highest charges for utilities, etc but what do we have to show for it?  My point exactly. :D  I agree that they shouldn't be ripped off but instead maybe made to work for the country...  :-/