Updated
September 16, 2026
If a real company kept sending you marketing texts after you replied STOP, each message may be a separate TCPA violation worth $500 to $1,500 — here is how to tell if you have a claim.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Rachel Dapeer, Esq.
Licensed in Florida, New York, and New Jersey
Office Location: Hallandale Beach, FL
Rachel Dapeer, Esq.
Licensed in Florida, New York, and New Jersey
Office Location: Hallandale Beach, FL
You Said STOP. They Didn't Listen. That's Against the Law.
You typed STOP. Maybe you typed it twice. Maybe you tried Unsubscribe, Cancel, Quit, End — every keyword you could think of. And the texts kept coming anyway.Another coupon you didn't ask for. Another "limited time offer" buzzing your phone at 8 AM. Another promotional message from a company that clearly does not care that you told them to leave you alone.
And we're not talking about random scam texts from unknown numbers trying to steal your information. We're talking about real, legitimate businesses — retailers you've shopped at, services you've used, brands you recognize — that keep blasting you with marketing texts after you explicitly told them to stop.
Here's what most people don't realize: every single one of those texts after your STOP reply is a separate federal violation.
Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), companies are legally required to honor your opt-out. When they don't, they owe you money — $500 per illegal text, and up to $1,500 per text if they ignored your opt-out on purpose.
That's not a typo. Per text. And if you've been getting these messages for weeks or months, those numbers add up fast.
⚠ Important: A case review needs screenshots of one text thread showing three things: your STOP reply, and then two separate marketing texts that the same company sent you afterward. Two texts after the opt-out, from the sender you told to stop. Most submissions that cannot be reviewed are missing that second text, or they show messages from a different company than the one that received the STOP.
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These claims are time-sensitive. Legal deadlines (statutes of limitations) vary by state and can permanently bar a claim once they pass — so don't wait for a callback. You are free to choose any attorney you wish, and if you are considering a claim you should speak with a qualified attorney of your choosing as soon as possible. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Why Companies Keep Texting You After You Say STOP
This isn't a glitch. Most of the time, it's a business decision.Companies use automated text marketing platforms that blast thousands of messages at once. Some of these systems are poorly configured and fail to process opt-out requests properly. Others use multiple phone numbers or shortcodes, so your STOP only applies to one number while the same company keeps texting you from another.
And in some cases, the company simply doesn't care. They know that most people will just get annoyed and delete the message. They're banking on the fact that you won't do anything about it.
But the law says otherwise. The TCPA doesn't care whether the company "meant to" keep texting you. It doesn't matter if their system had a bug. It doesn't matter if they used a different number. Once you say STOP, they are legally obligated to stop. Period.
Do You Have a TCPA Spam Text Claim? Here's How to Tell
You likely have an actionable claim if all four of these are true:• The texts are from a real, legitimate business — a retailer, restaurant chain, service provider, subscription company, or any identifiable brand. This does NOT apply to random scam texts, phishing attempts, or unknown numbers sending fraud links. The company must be a real business you can name.
• You replied STOP (or Unsubscribe, Cancel, Opt Out, Quit, End, or any similar opt-out keyword) to that company's text messages
• The same company sent you at least TWO more promotional texts after your opt-out — messages trying to sell you something, promote a deal, or push you to book a service. They have to come from the company you told to stop, not from a different sender. One text after STOP is a gray area. Two or more from that same company is a pattern.
• You have screenshots proving it — your STOP message and the marketing texts that came after. No screenshots = no case. The evidence must be on your phone.
You don't need a lawyer on retainer. You don't need to have filed a complaint with the FCC first. You just need proof that you told a legitimate company to stop and they didn't.
❌ This investigation does NOT cover:
• Random scam texts from unknown numbers
• Phishing or fraud messages pretending to be banks, the IRS, or delivery services
• Political campaign texts
• Texts where you cannot identify the sender as a real business
✅ This investigation DOES cover:
• Texts from named, identifiable companies (retail, food, health, beauty, travel, fitness, subscription services, etc.)
• Marketing texts that continued after you replied STOP or opted out
• Situations where you have screenshot evidence of at least two post-opt-out texts
• Random scam texts from unknown numbers
• Phishing or fraud messages pretending to be banks, the IRS, or delivery services
• Political campaign texts
• Texts where you cannot identify the sender as a real business
✅ This investigation DOES cover:
• Texts from named, identifiable companies (retail, food, health, beauty, travel, fitness, subscription services, etc.)
• Marketing texts that continued after you replied STOP or opted out
• Situations where you have screenshot evidence of at least two post-opt-out texts
It Doesn't Matter If You Signed Up Originally
This trips people up more than anything. "But I gave them my number when I made an account" or "I checked a box when I placed an order."None of that matters once you opt out. Prior consent is canceled the moment you reply STOP. The company had permission to text you, and then you revoked that permission. Everything sent after that point is unauthorized.
Think of it this way: you can invite someone into your house, but once you tell them to leave, they have to leave. Staying after that is trespassing. The same logic applies here.
Which Texts Count? Marketing vs. Transactional Messages
Not every text from a company is a TCPA violation. The law draws a line between marketing texts (which must stop after opt-out) and transactional texts (which are generally permitted).These are marketing texts that count as violations after STOP:
• "Flash sale — 40% off everything today only!"
• "We miss you! Come back and save 25%"
• "Use code FREESHIP at checkout"
• "Book your free consultation now"
• "New arrivals just dropped — shop now"
• "Last chance to claim your exclusive offer"
These generally do NOT count:
• "Your order has shipped — tracking number: 1Z999..."
• "Reminder: your appointment is tomorrow at 3 PM"
• "Your verification code is 482913"
• "Your payment of $49.99 was processed"
The simple test: is the text trying to get you to buy something or take a commercial action? If yes, it's marketing. If a company sent you marketing texts after your STOP, each one is a potential $500–$1,500 violation.
What Screenshots Do You Need? (This Is Non-Negotiable)
No screenshots, no case. This is the single most important thing on this page. An attorney cannot evaluate your claim without visual proof. Here's exactly what to submit:Everything comes from one text thread: the conversation with the company you told to stop. Three things have to be visible in it.
• 1. Your STOP reply. The message where you typed STOP, Unsubscribe, Opt Out, Cancel or a similar keyword, shown in that company's thread.
• 2. A marketing text that company sent you after it. The first promotional message that arrived once you had already opted out.
• 3. A second marketing text from that same company, also after your STOP. A different message, not another screenshot of the same one.
The second example is the part people leave out, and it is the difference between a reviewable claim and one an attorney has to set aside. One text after an opt-out can be explained away as a queued message that was already on its way. Two shows the company kept marketing to you after being told to stop, which is the pattern the claim rests on.
They also have to come from the same sender. A STOP sent to one company and later texts from a different one do not combine into a claim, because the opt-out only binds the company that received it. If several businesses ignored you, each needs its own thread and its own set of three screenshots.
The most common reasons a submission cannot be reviewed:
• Only one post-opt-out text was included instead of two
• The same message was submitted twice as if it were two examples
• The STOP reply is missing, so there is nothing showing the opt-out was made
• The texts came from a different number or company than the one that received the STOP
• The later messages are order updates, delivery notices or appointment reminders rather than marketing
Helpful but not required:
• Visible timestamps on the messages
• The sender's phone number or shortcode
• The name of the company (if you know it)
• Any confirmation message the company sent acknowledging your STOP (e.g., "You've been unsubscribed" — followed by more marketing texts anyway)
Pro tip: Scroll up in your text thread before taking screenshots. Many people have more post-opt-out marketing texts than they realize. Each one is a separate violation worth $500–$1,500. The more texts you can document, the stronger (and more valuable) your claim.
Remember: This is only for texts from legitimate businesses — companies like retailers, restaurants, salons, gyms, subscription services, insurance companies, car dealerships, and similar. If you don't know who sent the text or it looks like a scam, this investigation is not the right fit.
How Much Are Spam Texts Worth After Saying STOP?
The TCPA provides statutory damages — meaning you don't have to prove you lost money. The violation itself is the harm. Here's what the law allows:• $500 per unauthorized text message — this is the standard amount for each text sent after your opt-out
• $1,500 per text for willful violations — if the company knowingly or deliberately continued texting you after you opted out, the amount triples
To put that in perspective: if a company sent you 10 promotional texts after you replied STOP, that's $5,000 to $15,000 in potential statutory damages. Twenty texts? $10,000 to $30,000. And many people have far more messages than they think once they actually scroll through their text history.
What Is the TCPA and Why Does It Exist?
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a federal law originally passed in 1991 to protect consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls. It has since been expanded to cover text messages, which courts treat the same as phone calls under the statute.The core principle is simple: businesses cannot bombard you with marketing messages you didn't agree to, and once you withdraw consent, they must stop immediately. The TCPA gives individual consumers the right to sue violators directly, without needing a class action, and collect statutory damages for each illegal message.
This is one of the few areas of federal law where an everyday person can hold a large corporation accountable — and actually get paid for it.
Questions People Ask About Spam Texts After STOP
"Does this apply to scam texts and phishing messages?"
No. This investigation is specifically about legitimate, identifiable businesses that ignore your opt-out — companies like retailers, restaurants, subscription services, insurance providers, car dealerships, salons, and similar. Random scam texts from unknown numbers, phishing messages, or fraud attempts are a different issue entirely and are not covered here.
"How many texts do I need to have received after STOP?"
Two, and both have to come from the company that received your STOP. One text after an opt-out could be a queued message that was already on its way, so a single example rarely supports a claim on its own. Two separate messages from that same sender show the company kept marketing to you after being told to stop. This is the requirement submissions most often fall short of, so it is worth checking the thread before sending anything. The more post-opt-out texts you document, the stronger the claim.
"I said STOP months ago — is it too late?"
The statute of limitations for TCPA claims is four years. If you have texts from any time in the past four years showing your opt-out and the marketing messages that followed, you may still have a valid claim.
"The texts come from a shortcode or a number I don't recognize — does that matter?"
It depends. If you can identify the business behind the texts (their name appears in the message, or you recognize the brand), it can still qualify. Many legitimate companies use shortcodes or third-party texting platforms. What matters is that the sender is a real business and the texts are promotional. An attorney can help trace the sender if needed.
"I've gotten texts from multiple companies after saying STOP. Can I file against all of them?"
Yes. Each legitimate company that violated your opt-out is liable separately. If three different businesses ignored your STOP, that's three separate potential claims. Each one needs its own complete set, though: the STOP you sent that company plus two marketing texts it sent afterward. Screenshots cannot be mixed across senders, because an opt-out only binds the company that received it.
"Does this cost me anything?"
The case review through this page is completely free. TCPA attorneys typically work on contingency, meaning they only get paid if you get paid.
"What if the company finally stopped texting me?"
That doesn't erase the violations that already happened. Every illegal text they sent before they finally stopped is still a separate $500–$1,500 violation. As long as you have screenshots, the claim stands.
"What if I deleted the texts?"
Unfortunately, without screenshots showing your opt-out and the subsequent marketing texts, there's no evidence to support a claim. If you're currently receiving unwanted texts from a legitimate business, take screenshots now before submitting.
Quick Checklist: Do You Have a TCPA Claim?
✅ The texts are from a real, legitimate business you can identify by name (not random scam numbers)
✅ You replied STOP, Unsubscribe, Opt Out, Cancel, or a similar opt-out keyword
✅ You received at least TWO promotional texts after opting out
✅ The texts were marketing messages (sales, deals, offers, promotions — not service alerts)
✅ You have screenshots of your opt-out AND the marketing texts that followed
If you checked all five, you likely have a claim worth reviewing. If you're missing screenshots or the texts are from unknown scam numbers, this investigation isn't the right fit.
Stop Ignoring Texts That Are Ignoring You
Most people just delete the texts and move on. They assume there's nothing they can do about it. But federal law disagrees.Every time a legitimate business sends you a promotional text after you said STOP, they're violating your rights under the TCPA — and they owe you money for it.
You already did your part. You said STOP. Now it's time to make them do theirs.
If you have screenshots of at least two marketing texts from a real company sent after your opt-out, upload them below for a free case evaluation. It takes less than two minutes, and there's no cost or obligation.
Sources
• FCC: Robocalls and Telemarketing• FTC: Telemarketing Sales Rule Guidance
• 47 U.S.C. § 227: Telephone Consumer Protection Act
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