STOP replies and revoking consent, explained

What "revoking consent" actually means

Under the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA, 47 U.S.C. 227), many marketing texts are only allowed if you previously gave permission to receive them. "Revoking consent" means withdrawing that permission — telling the sender, in a way you can document, that you no longer agree to be texted.

You can revoke consent even if you don't remember ever opting in. Permission is sometimes buried in a checkbox, a form, or a purchase you made long ago. Withdrawing it puts the question back on the sender, and it creates a clear line: any texts that come after your request are messages you have plainly said you don't want.

Replying STOP is the simplest opt-out

For most legitimate marketing text programs, replying with the single word STOP is the standard opt-out. Senders that follow the rules are generally expected to honor a STOP reply and stop texting you, often after one confirmation message.

A few practical notes. STOP works best when you reply from the phone that received the text. Some programs also recognize words like END, QUIT, UNSUBSCRIBE, or CANCEL. And STOP is something you type and send yourself from your own messaging app — SpamStamp does not send it for you and is not an automatic unsubscribe service.

STOP vs. a documented written notice

When the texts don't stop

Sometimes texts keep coming after you reply STOP. When that happens, a short, factual written notice can be a sensible next step: a document that states you received unwanted texts, that you have withdrawn any consent, and that you are asking the sender to stop.

SpamStamp, a self-help software tool, helps you put that notice together — organizing the facts, the dates, and your revocation into a clean, by-the-book document. You review it, and you send it in your own name. SpamStamp does not file anything, negotiate, or contact the sender to bargain for you. You're always the sender.

How SpamStamp helps (and what it is not)

• SpamStamp is a self-help software tool for preparing a formal TCPA notice about a spam text, which you send in your own name.
• It helps you assemble the facts, dates, and your revocation of consent into a clear written document.
• It does not block, filter, or identify callers — it is not a spam blocker or a caller-ID/reverse-lookup app.
• It does not reply STOP for you, unsubscribe you, or act as an automatic opt-out service.
• It is not a law firm, does not give legal advice, files no lawsuits, and represents no one. You review and send everything yourself.

When a sender can't be safely identified

Not every spam text can be traced to a sender you can confidently name, and it would be dishonest to promise otherwise. SpamStamp does not "unmask" anyone or tell you exactly who texted you.

If a sender can't be safely identified, you still have good options. You can report the text to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, report unwanted texts to the FCC at fcc.gov, forward the spam to your carrier at 7726 (SPAM), and register your number at donotcall.gov. These are legitimate, no-cost steps you can take on your own.

Keep a record

1. Save the original text

   Screenshot the spam text, including the sender's number or short code and the date it arrived.

2. Reply STOP and note it

   Send STOP from your own phone and screenshot your reply so you have the date and time you opted out.

3. Track what comes after

   If texts keep arriving after your STOP request, save those too — they show the sender continued after you clearly asked them to stop.

4. Prepare a documented notice if needed

   If the messages don't stop, you can use SpamStamp to prepare a formal written notice, then review it and send it in your own name.