by Selene N.
Member since:
July 26, 2006

Text Message Nightmare!

June 17, 2007 04:22 PM EDT
views: 55 | comments: 18

I only use my cell phone for basic phone calls, and I did not (nor do I want to) subscribe to any text message plans. Both my husband and I (we have a family plan) started to get annoying advertisement text messages lately. I am really upset because it costs us 10 cents a piece. It really adds up. I have never used my cell phone number to register for any freebies or online information, so I have no idea where the advertisers got our number.

A similar situation happened before when my dentist started to send out text message appointment reminders. I was very upset because I did not authorize them to send me text messages (and cost me 10 cents a piece). I never liked the appointment reminders anyway. It's not like I am so sloppy that I would forget my appointment. I keep a calendar, you know.

I tried to get the text message function "turned off" by my cell phone service provider. But they said they couldn't do that. There is no option for me to say "block all incoming text messages because I don't want to use or pay for this functionality."

Wouldn't it be nice if we have the option to "turn off" the text message function on a phone? I don't want to use text messaging, and I don't want to be charged for them!

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Comments: 18

Kelly M. Jun 17, 2007, 4:24pm EDT
That would drive me insane! I already hate the telemarketers that waste your minutes, this is even worse!
Alicia Storey Jun 17, 2007, 4:31pm EDT
I agree with tina,text messages can be turned off
Sue * Jun 17, 2007, 4:35pm EDT
Text messages can be turned off, but they don't want to do it. We have done this when one of our kids was sending endless texts. I had to threaten to close my account and switch...and then, surprise! They could do it. You just have to be tough with these phone people...they like it when you have to pay per text.
Amy B. Jun 17, 2007, 4:52pm EDT
A co-worker was able to turn off her kids' texts when they ran up over $100 in text charges in one month. I just got my first text message spam the other day and I was just as ticked as you are! I hate getting free spam, let alone having to pay to receive it.
Dalal A. Jun 17, 2007, 5:24pm EDT
Well, I add my voice to too many here, you can turn it off. But coming to think of it I prefer text messaging over the annoying phone calls-in which they do make sure to get you. 10 cents is well worth rescheduling fees.
Larry H. Jun 17, 2007, 5:33pm EDT
my wife get text messages once in a while. we have cingular seem like they turn it off so it didn't let them through. just delete them.
Jennifer N. Jun 17, 2007, 7:32pm EDT
I think the cell phone providers should offer this option.

I don't hardly get any text messages (thankfully) but the few I get in a year's time don't bother me.

I guess a simple fix to this would to be sure to never give a business like a Dentist your cell phone number from here on out!
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Jun 17, 2007, 7:41pm EDT
Selene, you should also ask your cell phone company for a one-time courtesy credit to compensate you for your inconvenience as a longer-term customer trying to get a resolution to this issue. They should have turned off the function. Keep calling, and either get a credit or take it all the way to the top to get their "policy" changed.
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Jun 17, 2007, 7:42pm EDT
One more thing, I'm sorry you're having to go through this Selene! If there's any good news in this, it sounds like you're not alone. Keep up the faith!
Carol Lloyd Jun 17, 2007, 8:20pm EDT
agree with tina
Kjersti W. Jun 17, 2007, 9:34pm EDT
I think it is very unbusinesslike for the companies to be charging for incoming texts when you cannot control them coming in. Personally, I don't have an issue with it since to use my type of phone (sidekick) you automatically get unlimited text messages, although until recently I never used them. I do however hate the stupid additional uncontollable costs cells companies add on. For me the most annoyng is how calling voice mail counts as minutes and almost always it is some stupid wrong number or ad when I check.
Kay S. Jun 17, 2007, 10:17pm EDT
I also had this problem. I contacted my provider (Verizon) and had this feature blocked. They also credited my account for the charges. Do not let them tell you they have no way to block this feature. If they insist they can't do it, tell them that you will have to immediately go to another provider for service, and that you will expect them to credit your account. Also, be sure to keep documention of all calls regarding this issue.
Tab B. Jun 17, 2007, 10:55pm EDT
We also had this issue on our family plan. Our phone company would send us text messages, but it always said it was free (and they were). But then we would get something from a friend. Instead of a phone call, they would text a message or a picture. Ugh! It drove me crazy. Then hubby got a nasty text from someone he or I didn't know. So I called our provider (Cingular) and asked them to remove this option from our plan, along with internet (so if my kids get my phone, they can't accidently log into the internet and incur outrages charges!) Both options were removed without much hassle at all. You should be able to have this taken care of on yours as well. GL!
Selene N. Jun 18, 2007, 12:25am EDT
Hummm..... I will have to call the customer service again! I am using T-Mobile and the last time I complained to them, the phone rep told me there was no way to stop the incoming text messages. Maybe they just didn't want to do it for me!

I might also look into getting a different carrier. I have been looking at Cingular for a long time. It's just the cost issue. T-Mobile has the cheapest plan that suits our needs. And I don't feel like paying for the activation fees again. I guess you get what you paid for!!
Kristen M. Aug 27, 2008, 9:55pm EDT
With At & T you have the option to turn off your text messages completely
Mary (diet dr pepper junkie) T. Sep 30, 2008, 12:03am EDT
that's totally baloney. We turned ours off.

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