A method and system to provide a voice mail service for a prepaid subscriber in a wireless telecommunication system is described wherein a prepaid administrative system is connected with a switching node. When the switching node receives an incoming call to the prepaid subscriber and the subscriber's number is busy or unavailable, the call is redirected to a voice mail number. The system determines whether the incoming call to the voice mail originates from the prepaid subscriber, i.e., the subscriber is checking for voice messages. If the call originates from the subscriber's wireless phone number, the call is charged to the subscriber's account. If the call originates from other than the subscriber's wireless phone, there are no charges to the account.