There’s nothing more annoying than a company spamming you with text message marketing you don’t want. You hear your phone chirp hoping it’s someone interesting, only to discover that it’s some brand offering you 10 percent off boiler servicing. Ugh, what a disappointment.
A one-off interruption wouldn’t be so bad. But when you get unwanted messages twenty times per week, it really starts to grate.
If only there was a way to unsubscribe…
As it happens, there is. And it’s easier than you might think. Here’s what you need to do:
Respond With The Correct Words
Text messages don’t come with unsubscribe links like regular emails. However, you can send automated text commands to stop them from continually sending unsolicited messages to your SMS inbox.
The command you need to type depends on the automated service the vendor is using. Usually, they will tell you what to text to end communications with them in their first message to you. However, if they don’t, you’ll need to guess it.
Common stop commands include:
- STOP
- UNSUBSCRIBE
- CANCEL
- QUIT
- END
Most automated systems use one of these commands. If you enter the right command, they will send you a message confirming that you will no longer receive text messages from the vendor.
With advances in technology, opting out of unwanted SMS messages is becoming easier. Numbers that use natural language processing can now determine whether a user wants to unsubscribe, even if they use the wrong command. With these systems, you can write something like, “stop sending me messages” and they will understand what you mean.
How To Unsubscribe From Short Code Lists
The majority of automated text services use shortcode numbers, such as “85690.” Automated services can share your details with other short-code services, leading to an exponential increase in the number of unsolicited SMS communications you receive. Fortunately, you can prevent all shortcode lists from that number by texting the message, “STOP ALL.”
How To Block Spam Texts
Sometimes, businesses and other organizations will attempt to market via regular phone numbers. Again, most will stop texting you if you reply asking them to remove you from their SMS list. However, some numbers are pure spam and won’t stop, no matter what you say.
If this happens, simply add these numbers to your phone’s block list. Both iPhones and Android devices offer facilities that let you stop specific numbers from contacting you and interrupting your day. A while ago, we wrote a blog post on how to block spam texts, so feel free to check that out.
How To Prevent Text Message Spam
Lastly, you’ll want to find ways to prevent text message spam from becoming a problem in your life in the future. To do this, avoid handing out your phone number to organizations with poor data protection policies. Untrustworthy firms will sometimes sell your details to third parties to make extra money on the side.