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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Looking to send money to someone in prison? Here’s how! Words: WIP’s Narinder Panesar gives the low-down on the do’s and don’ts of sending money to loved ones in prison.
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ince the coronavirus pandemic and mounting health and safety concerns, sending money to someone in prison has changed significantly. As of 2 November 2020, the main way to send money to an individual in prison is through the gov. uk website. You can use this service to make payments via Mastercard, Visa or Maestro debit cards. This is a free and secure service available across all prisons in England and Wales (with the exception of HMP Thameside). Here’s everything you need to know. What do you need to send money to someone in prison? You will need the individual’s full name, date of birth and prisoner number. You will also need a valid debit card and an online banking account. Can you send money to someone in prison without using the Internet? You may be allowed to send money by post
if you are unable to access a computer, a smart phone or the Internet. You may also be able to apply for an exemption if you do not have a debit card. See the gov.uk website for more details. How do you know if the individual has received the payment? The best way to assure that someone has received the payment is to ask them directly when you speak with them. Once you have made the payment by debit card, you will receive a confirmation email. Please do not delete this email, since you may require proof of the payment if there is an issue or delay with processing the payment. Is it free? This new service provided by gov.uk allows you to send money to someone in prison in the UK for free. How long does it take for money to reach someone in prison? Using the gov.uk platform, it usually takes
