You've gotten those texts from angry ex-boyfriends, creepy stalkers, and jealous friends. One text turns into one hundred. Reading those words can be annoying and just plain hurtful. We've all been there. But what do you do if the texts just don't stop? I've got the perfect solutions for you.
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Be Completely Honest
Tell that person that their nonstop texts are making you feel uncomfortable. If you would rather talk than go back and forth, tell them to give you a call. It's easy to misunderstand when reading words and not hearing a voice.
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Confront the Person
If they're not discouraged and they continue to pester you, talk face to face. Be firm and tell them your feelings about the constant texts. Set boundaries and just tell them straight up to stop contacting you.
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Simply Ignore the Texts
No response is definitely a response. Over time, they should get the message loud and clear when you're not giving them any feedback.
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Send an Error Message
A great example of an automated message is “SMS SERVICE ERROR 404: DESTINATION UNAUTHORIZED” or “SMS SERVICE ERROR 202: Message delivery failed. Further messages will be charged to your account." All caps adds some serious emphasis. They'll think something is wrong with the service, or they'll think that they're being charged money for sending texts. Each time they continue to contact you, send the same message. A sane person would give up altogether.
Who wouldn't get flustered by a glitchy tech issue? It's like a digital stop sign. If he's persistent, switch up the numbers to keep it convincing—something like “SMS SERVICE ERROR 506: Number blocked. Continued messages will incur additional network charges.” By keeping the error messages varied yet official-sounding, you're more likely to deter even the most determined of text senders. After all, no one wants to argue with what looks like a tech snafu, especially if it might cost them!
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Block Them
This can be as easy as clicking on the contact and selecting the block option. If you're not sure how, look online or call customer service. There's also apps that can block numbers, like Mr. Number of Truecaller, which automatically block private and unknown numbers.
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If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.
Say Your Phone Was Stolen or Lost
Tell them that the person they are trying to contact isn't you, and that you just found the phone. Make up a story to make it even more believable if they still won't stop.
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Bombard Their Phone
See how they like their own medicine by sending constant texts. Send them annoying phrases or stupid pictures of cats. It's a game of who can give up first, which hopefully will be them.
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Get a New Number
If all else fails, get new digits so your harasser won't be able to find you. The amount of time it takes to switch all your contacts and info might be longer than just starting from the beginning of this list, so give this option some thought.
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Get Help
Go to the authorities--your teacher, principal, or manager can address the situation. You can even go to the police to have a no-contact order if the situation gets to that point.
Think before giving your number to someone you just met and keep your number private. Don't post it on social media and keep all of your accounts private. Some people may think you're being overly cautious, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
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