About the switch from Direct Bill to AdvanceConnect at TDCJ
Soon the way you pay for phone calls with TDCJ inmates will change. We’ll automatically convert your current Securus Direct Bill account to a Securus AdvanceConnectprepaid account, so you’ll no longer receive a monthly invoice for your collect calls!
The transition will be rolled out in phases based on the first letter of your last name. On your switchover date, you can begin to add money to the AdvanceConnect account, which you must do prior to completing calls with inmates at TDCJ. You’ll use your same Direct Bill login credentials to access your AdvanceConnect account. Your account number and personal information will also remain the same!
We have created the Frequently Asked Questions below to help family and friends of inmates at TDCJ prepare for this transition.
Why is TDCJ switching to AdvanceConnect?
TDCJ is converting Direct Bill accounts to AdvanceConnect to help reduce the overall cost of supporting phone communications. Direct Bill required monthly invoice mailings, collection support, and other operational processes that became too expensive to maintain.
Together, Securus and TDCJ have agreed to switch to the more cost-effective AdvanceConnect service. Not only is AdvanceConnect a less expensive option, but it’s also a more modern payment program that offers many benefits that Direct Bill didn’t, such as advanced account management features, automatic funding options and more!
When is the change happening?
We will be transitioning accounts throughout the month of August. The switchover will take place in phases based on the first letter of your last name. You can learn more about planned transition dates by visiting the FAQ section of securustech.net/TDCJ.
Securus has also sent a message with details about the switch to family and friends with a Direct Bill account email address on file.
What is AdvanceConnect?
AdvanceConnect is a funding solution that allows you to pay for collect calls from inmates at TDCJ. Once your AdvanceConnect account is set up, you must fund it to begin receiving calls from your loved one at TDCJ right away. To help you stay in control of your call-related spending, you always have the option to accept or reject calls, and the cost of each completed call will automatically be deducted from your AdvanceConnect account.
What are the advantages of AdvanceConnect?
- No credit check!
- Control – You can continue to receive calls (which you can accept or reject) from your loved one at TDCJ as long as funds are available in your account.
- Multiple lines – You can add several phone numbers to your account so your loved one can reach your home, work, mobile, other relatives, friends, and more.
- Account support – Get 24/7/365 access to your account through securustech.net, the Securus Mobile app, or Securus customer care at 972-734-1111.
- Helpful alerts – You can sign up for Securus to text you reminders to fund your account when your balance reaches $10 or less. Simply reply to those texts to add a preset amount of funds, that you determine, using your credit or debit card.
- Money management – You can add funds to your account through securustech.net, the Securus mobile app, a money-handling service such as MoneyGram or Western Union, or even mail a check.
- Automatic funding – Securus can automatically add funds to your account when your balance reaches a value you determine. Best of all, you choose how much money is added so you’re always in control of your calling expenses.
- Streamlined billing – AdvanceConnect helps reduce the overall cost of supporting phone communications at TDCJ to keep pricing as low as possible for you.
How do I log into my AdvanceConnect account?
To log into your AdvanceConnect account, first log into your Securus account and select AdvanceConnect. You’ll use your same Direct Bill log in credentials to log into your account. Your account number and personal information will also remain the same.
When can I add funds to my AdvanceConnect account?
For security reasons, you can’t have an active Direct Bill account and AdvanceConnect account at the same time. This means that you won’t be able to fund your AdvanceConnect account until after your transition date.
Securus has also sent a message with details about the switch to family and friends with a Direct Bill account email address on file.
How should I prepare for this transition?
Before you can receive calls:
- When your account has been converted, add funds to it through securustech.net, the Securus mobile app, a money-handling service such as MoneyGram or Western Union, or mail a check.
- Pay any outstanding amount on your Direct Bill account. Credit balances and unbilled charges will be carried over to your AdvanceConnect account.
- Deposit funds into your loved one’s Securus Debit account to pay for calls until you have a chance to add funds to your own account. You can add funds to a Securus Debit account here.
- Note that if your account is low on funds or you would rather pay for a single call, you can accept and pay for individual collect calls with your debit/credit card. However, a $3 transaction fee will apply to each such call, so it’s best to keep your AdvanceConnect account balance funded to save on charges related to payment processing.
How do I add funds to my AdvanceConnect account?
Securus offers several convenient options for you to add funds to your AdvanceConnect account. You can quickly and easily add money to your AdvanceConnect account by:
- Logging into your Securus account and selecting AdvanceConnect.
- Accessing the Securus Mobile app.
- Using MoneyGram or Western Union.
- Securus at 972-734-1111.
- Mailing a personal check, money order or cashier’s check to:
Securus Correctional Billing Services
P.O. Box 650757
Dallas, TX 75265-0757
How much money should I add to my account?
Consider how many calls you plan to receive over a certain period, and deposit enough to cover those planned calls. Any leftover money will remain in your account and will be used to pay for future calls until you close your account. You can close your account at any time and request a refund of the remaining balance. Deposits into AdvanceConnect accounts will be charged a $3 transaction fee.
If you don’t have enough funds in your AdvanceConnect account at the time you are called, you can still pay for that call with a credit/debit card, but an electronic funding surcharge of $3 will apply for that single call.
I already have an AdvanceConnect account – am I all set?
If your current AdvanceConnect account is being used to pay for calls from TDCJ sites already, then there is no change for you.
TDCJ calling accounts are unique to TDCJ facilities. An AdvanceConnect account used to pay for calls from another agency cannot be used for calls from TDCJ. Your current TDCJ Direct Bill account will be changed to a separate AdvanceConnect account specific to TDCJ on your transition date. You will then see two AdvanceConnect accounts when you SIGN IN to your Securus online or your Securus Mobile App – one for TDCJ calls and one for calls from other agencies. Your new TDCJ AdvanceConnect account status will show as “Blocked” and must be funded separately before the status will change to “Active” and you are able to receive and pay for collect calls.
We are also adding an option to pay for a single collect call with a credit/debit card when your account is too low to pay for a call, however, an electronic funding surcharge of $3 will apply for each such call.
During the transition, will I still be able to communicate with my loved one?
Yes! The actual switchover will be quick, but you may want to receive calls before you have a chance to deposit funds into your AdvanceConnect account. So, during the transition, you can continue to communicate with your loved one through two methods:
- Inmates at TDCJ can pay for phone calls out of their Securus Debit account. You can add funds to an inmate’s Securus Debit account here. If inmates do not have sufficient funds available in their Securus Debit account, they will not be able to initiate and/or complete calls.
- Answer a collect call from your loved one at TDCJ and pay for that call with your credit/debit card (however, a $____ surcharge will apply for that one call). After the transition, you should fund your AdvanceConnect account in increments to handle multiple calls in the future.
- How do I add money to my loved one’s Securus Debit account?
- You can fund phone calls by depositing money into a TDCJ inmate’s Securus Debit account 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phone and online. To make a deposit into your loved one’s Securus Debit account, click here.
- I have a credit on my Direct Bill account – what happens to those unused funds?
- If you have available funds in your Direct Bill account due to overpayment or a credit, those funds will automatically transition over to the balance of your new AdvanceConnect account.
- Overpayments and credits will show as a negative in your account, indicating a reduction in the costs of the services to be paid. Charges for any calls that you’ve not been billed for yet will be reflected in your account.
- Here’s an example of what will happen if you have available funds in your Direct Bill account and outstanding calls that you’ve not been invoiced for yet on the date of your transition to AdvanceConnect:
DirectBill Account Status Transaction Example
You have overpaid a prior invoice or received a refund/credit. -$10.00
You have received calls since your last Direct Bill invoice and need to pay for those calls. $6.00
Here is the credit balance that will show in your AdvanceConnect account after your transition date. -$4.00
You will be able to accept and pay for calls as long as you have funds in your account that will cover the cost of those calls. It’s important that you regularly add funds to your AdvanceConnect account to continue communicating with your incarcerated loved one.
I have an unpaid balance on my Direct Bill account – what will happen to that balance?
If you have an unpaid balance on your Direct Bill account, it will transition over to your new AdvanceConnect account. Charges for any calls that you haven’t been billed for yet will show as a positive in your account, since they have not yet been paid. You must pay the owed balance and have enough funds in your AdvanceConnect account prior to receiving and paying for additional collect calls.
Here’s an example of what will happen if you have an outstanding balance on your Direct Bill account on the date of your transition to AdvanceConnect:
DirectBill Account Status Transaction Example
You have no overpayments or credits available. $0.00
You’ve received calls since your last Direct Bill
invoice and need to pay for those calls. $6.00
Here is the call charge balance that will show in your
AdvanceConnect account after your transition date. $6.00
You will not be able to accept and pay for new calls if you have a charge balance (shown as the $6.00 example above) on your account. To accept calls, you must:
- Add enough funds into your AdvanceConnect account to cover the outstanding balance plus the cost of the next call OR
- Pay for each collect call using your credit/debit card (however, a $3 surcharge will apply for that option) until you can add funds to your AdvanceConnect prepaid account.
Your loved one can always call you and pay for the call from a Securus Debit account. You can deposit funds into your loved one’s Securus Debit account to pay for calls until you have a chance to add funds to your own account. You can add funds to a Securus Debit account here.
It’s important to note that your AdvanceConnect account status on Securus Online will show as blocked until you add enough funds to cover the outstanding balance as well as the cost of the next call.
What should I do if I have questions?
If you have additional questions about AdvanceConnect at TDCJ, please click here or contact Securus customer care at 972-734-1111.
Thank you!