Why Should I Pay for Spam Text Messages, T-Mobile?

Call Customer Service right away and demand to block text messages. I
had exactly the same problem early in spring. They told me they COULD
block only messages sent from other phones and COULD NOT the ones sent
from the web. However, they gave me credit towards any potential text
message arriving that month. Somehow messages stopped.

If you live in CA, there's a class action suit, I understand, because
of this very issue. T-Mobile promises to fix it in July, but why hurry
if they can make all this money on so many accounts while only a few
fight back.

Don't let them get away with this. If they can track each message in
order to bill you, they should be able to track them in order to block
them. I believe it should be as simple as this: if you do not have
texting in your account and something gets through, it's the result of
T-Mobile's flaud system and they must absorb the cost of it. Money is
the only motivator that makes them hustle. As long as you're willing
to pickup their slack they will not evolve.

Hi
I could not agree with you more. Yea, indeed, you should not have to
pay for spam because it is T-mobile responsibility to provide a secure
service to its customer. Who knows if they are not responsible for
the spam so that they can make money out of innocent customers.
maye

T-Mobile can't block text messages because it often uses this service
to send important messages to customers.

Some of these messages are in regards to upcoming promotions
applicable to the customer.

Some are a way of confirming a change made to a customer's account,
such as a rate plan change, or security password change. This is a
security feature to make sure the customer actually requested the
change.

Another message they send out is for delinquent or past due accounts.
Although I can understand why someone might not want to get this
little reminder that they need to pay their bill, it's in the
customer's best interest so the phone doesn't get suspended for
non-payment.

The bottom-line is, if T-Mobile can't block certain text messages, and
blocking all would mean you wouldn't get the important ones from
them.

As alikat mentioned, you can login to your My T-Mobile account and set
up filters. Also, just simply reply to the message with one word
"STOP". This usually does the trick. You can also just delete the
message without opening it.

And keep in mind, it might seem coincidental that some people get the
same messages with the same carrier at the same time, that's just
because the spamming company is sending them to everyone on their list
at that time. T-Mobile didn't sign you up for any of the spam. Chances
are you replied to a message not knowing it would put your on their
list, or you clicked on something online that got you added. Don't
blame your cell phone carrier.

well from being in the cell support business as it goes number one
overall I have been there. To fix that spam issue you are getting
emails to your phone. Wether or not you know every cell no matter the
carrier has an email address ie xxx-xxx-xxxx@tmomail.net for t-mobile
for the love of god please go on my.t-moble.com under comunication
tools on the right you will see where it says to setup filters and
block all emal to handset. And number two t-mobile and most other
carriers won't block SMS because they dont want but because they
can't. And if they did you wouldn't get nessicary updates to your
phone. Even simple things like you voicemail waiting icon is controled
by a silent SMS to your phone. And if they turn that off you will call
up pissed again that you aren't getting that. And the last thing I
want to address is with blocking calls or sms from the phone. Even
though you won't see it on the phone still coming there and will still
be charged. Even if the phone rings only once and goes to voicemail.
That is still one minute because network had to connect to your phone.
Welcome to the world of cell phones.

A heads-up to my fellow annoyed T-Mobile Customers: There has been a
Class-Action Lawsuit filed over T-Mobile's SMS policy (I just came
across the article the other day, so I'm not sure if they are still
accepting clients though!) :)

Usually T Mobile is more understanding in these types of issues. I had
recently eneded a relationship and he turned out to be a total stalker
and would text me, call me ect... I called up the customer service and
they allowed me to change my number free of charge and didn't charge
me for the texts because texting wasn't on my plan and it costs extra
to even receive a message. I hope you get this issue solved.

Ironically, I got almost the same exact text message on Friday that
you mentioned, and I have T-Mobile as well! (something makes me wonder
if T-Mobile is being very insecure with their customer's phone numbers
on purpose)!

For those who suggested disabling the SMS Texts, T-Mobile refuses to
disable text messaging (I've been there and tried that after receiving
a spam text last year!)

to not have a cell phone.

Can't you just disable text messages altogether? I'm with the poster
below - leave texting to the 16 year olds. If I were in your
situation that is what I would do.

I didn't know there was cell phone text spam. It's bad enough to deal
with computer spam. If I were receiving phone spam, I'd be tempted to
throw the phone out the window.

I've started getting spam text messages occasionally in the last year
or so. A few weeks ago I actually got a phishing text...it said some
bank service (for a bank I don't have any accounts at, of course) was
expiring and I had to call the number to get it straightened out.
Yeah, sure.

It's bad enough that I'm deleting a dozen messages from my bulk mail
folder every day, I don't need to get this crap on my phone!
Unfortunately, I don't use my phone all that often but I actually text
more than I make calls, so getting rid of texting is not an option.
But I don't pay per text; I have a $10 plan that gives me X amount of
texts per month, which I don't ever use them all, so I don't worry
about the occasional spam message. I just find them annoying. If I was
paying per text, I would be pi**ed, however.

Can't you just not open the text message and delete it? Everyone on
my cell phone has a name associated with that number. If you don't
know the number dont open the text message.

Good Day

Given all the different and awesome suggestions (very helpful advice,
everybody!) from the posters here, I have to wonder about the customer
service rep who gave such useless advice!

I used to sell cell phones (no, not by the sea shore :)), and I can't
tell you how much of my time was spent tracking down these companies
that send these stupid spam texts and removing my customers from their
lists. Often, even after I spent hours removing the number, they
would start up again a few months later. It seemed impossible to stop
them no matter what we did!

One thing you might try is texting the word "stop" to the number that
sent you the text. Sometimes - sometimes - that is the magic word to
unsubscribe you from the "service" that spammers "provide."

Our 45 year old daughter got three spam text messages within a perion
of 12 hours. She called her cell phone provider and was told they
couldn't do much about it, short of disabling the text message
service, which she subsequently did. She never used it and didn't
want it from the beginning but thought that perhaps someday it might
be "useful".

We had our test message service disabled from day one. We did not
plan on using yet another form of communicatin. Why do you need
another method of communication? This world is going nuts.

Also, you can - - DO NOT ANSWER YOUR PHONE. If the method you use to
turn on your phone is too open it, DON'T! That's our method of
turning on the phone but we can read on the window first to see where
the call is coming from.

Our daughter has to push a button to except a phone call, DON'T!
Hopefully, it will guit ringing after a few tries. Our's does. It
only rings about 4-5 times. This is set-able by the cell phone
carrier. Our first phone only rang about 3 times before it hung up so
you had to be quick about answering it. We had it "reset" to ring at
least 5 times allowing us amble time to get to it or take it out of
the pouch or belt carrier.

And the text language is stupid....let the kids use it and PAY for it.
Perhaps when their parents see the excess charges they're paying for
the childs phone, they'll wise up and have the child text message
service disconneted.

Just so you know there is a way to block spam messages from
appearing on your bill. ON tmobile.com under communications you have
the power to set up filters that will protect you from spam messages.
Also a customer care supervisor can blacklist all additional content
from third party providers if you request it. Just a couple ideas.
have a good day .

This is annoying, isn't it?

And I expect that at some point, the FTC and/or FCC (there are some
jurisdiction issues) will take this up.

On the other hand, even with CAN-SPAM, this hasn't stopped it. Has
it?

I expect that, when this is taken up, the result will be the
following: (1) There is nothing than can be done to stop text message
SPAM, (2) If you call, a wireless carrier will have to temporarily
remove it from your bill, (3) If you refuse to pay, the wireless
carrier cannot deny you service or report the non-payment to credit
reporting agencies.

This is similar to the rules surrounding 976/900 numbers with landline
carriers.

Until then, the general rules is simple: you must pay for any text
message (or voice call, for that matter) that you receive.

Personally, I don't like it any more than you.

And, as someone said, a few carriers offer a way to limit which text
messages you receive.

I have to ask if you ever provided your cell number for a "contest" or
"service." You'd be shocked at the seemingly harmless places these
scumbags phish your info from.

But it really isn't T-mobile's job to monitor the incoming texts on
your phone. What would happen if you got a text that THEY deemed to
be spam, they blocked it and it was actually a valid text message?

As other's have said, either block the SMS feature altogether or
figure out how you can set your phone to only accept texts from people
in your phone book.

I swear I would never say anything nice about Sprint, but here
goes...I have the option to reject all text messages from anybody but
known numbers in my address book.

This happens no matter who the carrier is and the only way to stop it
is to block all text messages. Your other option is to contact the
sender and get removed from the list.