Class Action Claims JPay 30-Minute Inmate Video Visitation Sessions Never Last Full 30 Minutes

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A proposed class action lawsuit filed in Texas alleges defendant JPay, Inc. shorts families and friends of incarcerated individuals full 30-minute video visitation sessions despite charging for such.

The suit says JPay provides video conferencing services to more than 500 prison facilities across the country. One of the company’s services, the case explains, is “video visitation,” whereby family and/or friends of an inmate can communicate with the individual face-to-face from the comfort of their own homes.

According to the lawsuit, rather than charge users by the minute, JPay instead charges a per-visit fee even though visits are purchased in 30-minute increments. While proposed class members must pay between $9 and $15 for a supposedly 30-minute session, consumers simply do not receive the benefit of their bargain, the case alleges, citing complaints from across the country from JPay users. 

Per the plaintiff, the suit claims the man has purchased at least two 30-minute video visitation sessions from JPay every month since April 2014.

“Out of the approximately 30 sessions, none of the sessions actually lasted for 30 minutes, so [the plaintiff] did not receive the benefit of the bargain (30-minute video session) for which he paid,” the case claims.