Text Messaging

[puzzle_me]

I currently have text messaging blocked on my cell phone. In the past 24 hours, I have been receiving ~5 txt messages an hour from 2 different phone numbers. What's happening is that I'm receiving the same message over and over. They have been labeled " *Duplicate* ". One of the numbers was someone I know - I contacted him and it stopped. Almost immediately, I started receiving duplicate messages from a number I don't recognize in Eugene, OR. I've contacted the two people I know in Eugene, though I highly doubt it's from them. I contacted Verizon this morning to block text messaging. They can't block specific numbers, so it's all blocked. In addition, they've started a tech support ticket to see if this is something on their end.

So, this post is mainly to let people know not to try to contact me via text message. Though, I am also curious whether anyone else has had this problem before.

Update: Evidently y'all just can't manage to figure out how to use that 'lock' feature on your cell phones when you have them bumping around in your pockets. ;) In the future, please only accidentally send me juicy text messages so I at least have something to embarrass you with when I call you to tell you to lock your cell phone. Also, I'll be leaving my messaging blocked for a few days because I'm really sick of my phone beeping and buzzing at me.

Comments

[minorninth.livejournal.com]

I haven't had that problem, although every couple months or so I get a text message that isn't for me - computer-generated, not personal.

I think that their model where you're charged to send and to receive a text message is broken. I love texting my friends, but not everyone appreciates receiving them, especially if they have to pay to receive it and they might not have even wanted it. That plus spam and accidental messages creates a lot of annoyance and resentment on the part of customers.

My latest cool use of text messaging is to have my Google Calendar text me 15 minutes before I have a meeting. Sweet! It's handy when I'm nowhere near a computer to remind me.

[springbok1.livejournal.com]

Having a name that starts with a-b means that I'm the first contact in many people's contacts list in their cell phone. This has led to a fair number of 'accident' calls where people managed to bump the right series of buttons to make a call. I've only recently started getting errant text messages though.

I do like having the option to send and receive texts. I send texts mainly when I'm not sure whether someone I would otherwise call is asleep and I've usually enjoyed getting texts from friends. Verizon charges 10 cents for every text received, which usually doesn't add up to much. But, 5 txts an hour over the course of the day adds up to $12/day. That's not an expense I want. The lady I spoke to seemed to think it was probably a glitch in their system, so I'll wait and see what the tech support investigation turns up. Hopefully, if it is a glitch in their system, I won't be charged for all the duplicate messages I received in the last day.

[farmchick.livejournal.com]

Basically all cell phones in Ghana are set up for "pay-as-you-talk" plans. So, the system is that the person generating the call or the text pays for it. It has the advantage of not feeling guilty about sending people unwanted messages. A text message costs about the same as a 30sec conversation. The downside/funny part is that if you have at least 4 units left on your phone you can "flash" someone (meaning calling and hanging up on the first ring). This lets the person know that you want to talk with them but that you are about out of units so they should call back and incure the cost of the phone call.

[goteam.livejournal.com]

It was me! I'm sorry! I think I fixed it!

[springbok1.livejournal.com]

Thanks for 'fessing up! If it happens again, I'll just call and let you know. :)