Spam Texts After STOP? You May Be Owed $500 to $1,500 Per Text
By Steve Levine
- $500–$1,500 per illegal text
- Free, confidential case review
- No fee unless you win
Updated: May 23, 2026
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Rachel Dapeer, Esq.
Licensed in Florida, New York, and New Jersey
Office Location: Hallandale Beach, FL
Still Getting Texts After You Replied STOP?
Replied STOP — and the texts kept coming? Federal law says they have to stop. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) lets you recover $500 per illegal text, or up to $1,500 per text if a court finds the violation was willful.Multiple texts add up fast. Five marketing texts after your opt-out can mean $2,500 to $7,500. Ten can mean $5,000 to $15,000. You don’t need to be a lawyer to start — you just need screenshots.
Requirements to Qualify
To submit a claim through this investigation, you need to meet all three eligibility requirements AND provide the documentation listed below.
Eligibility — all 3 must apply
- You opted out. You replied STOP, Unsubscribe, Cancel, End, Quit, or similar opt-out language to the sender.
- They kept texting you marketing messages. You received at least two (2) promotional or marketing texts from the same sender AFTER your opt-out reply.
- The texts were sent within the last 4 years. The TCPA has a 4-year statute of limitations measured from the date of each illegal text.
Documentation You Need to Submit
- A screenshot of your STOP / Unsubscribe / Cancel reply
- Screenshots of at least 2 marketing texts received AFTER your opt-out
- Screenshots should show the message text, the sender name or phone number, and the timestamp (whatever is visible on your phone)
- The name of the company that sent the texts, if you know it
Does NOT Qualify
- Service messages — appointment reminders, shipping updates, two-factor codes, account alerts you signed up for
- Business-to-business messages or internal company notices
- Texts you consented to and never opted out of
- Texts sent more than 4 years ago
Prior consent does not matter once you opt out. Once you say STOP, the company must stop.
What Counts as a Marketing Text?
Marketing texts try to sell you something, push a deal, or get you to book a service. Transactional texts are typically informational and often allowed.Marketing examples:
• “Flash Sale Today”
• “Use code SAVE20”
• “Limited time offer”
• “Book now for a free consult”
Usually not marketing:
• Appointment reminders
• Shipping updates
• Two factor authentication codes
• Account alerts you requested
What Is the TCPA?
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a federal law that limits unwanted calls and text messages. In plain terms, it is meant to stop businesses from blasting consumers with marketing messages they did not agree to receive, or continuing after consumers opt out.Under the TCPA:
• Companies must honor an opt-out request like STOP
• Violations can lead to $500 per illegal text, or up to $1,500 per text for willful violations
How Much Money Could I Get?
The TCPA allows:• $500 per illegal text message
• Up to $1,500 per illegal text message for willful violations
Multiple messages can add up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I actually get per illegal text?
The TCPA sets statutory damages at $500 per illegal text, with courts able to award up to $1,500 per text if the violation is found to be willful. Statutory means you don’t have to prove you lost money — the per-text amount is set by federal law. Actual recovery in any case depends on the facts, the strength of the evidence, and whether the company settles or fights.
How long do I have to file? Is there a deadline?
TCPA claims generally have a four-year statute of limitations under federal law, measured from the date of each illegal text. Texts older than four years are typically too old to include, so the longer you wait, the smaller the window of recoverable messages. If you have recent screenshots, it’s worth submitting them sooner rather than later.
I deleted the texts. Can I still file?
Maybe — but it gets harder. Screenshots are the cleanest evidence. If you deleted the texts but they’re still in your cellular carrier’s records, in a backup (iCloud, Google), or on another device synced to your number, they can sometimes be recovered. Submit what you have and the firm will evaluate whether the surviving evidence is enough.
Will the company that sent the texts know it was me?
If the case moves forward, the defendant company will eventually learn your identity through the legal process — that’s true of any lawsuit. Submitting a case review on this page, by itself, does not notify the company. Your screenshots and contact info go only to Dapeer Law, P.A. for an eligibility evaluation; nothing is filed or sent to the sender without your written authorization.
Is this a class action I’m joining, or my own individual case?
This investigation is set up to evaluate individual TCPA claims — your own case against the company that texted you after your STOP. Individual cases can be filed as standalone lawsuits or in coordinated arbitration. If the firm determines that a class or mass action is the right vehicle for a particular sender, they’ll explain that option before any representation agreement is signed.
What does “no fee unless you win” actually mean?
Dapeer Law, P.A. takes qualifying TCPA cases on a contingency basis — you don’t pay attorney’s fees out of pocket. The firm is only paid if your case results in a recovery, and the fee comes from that recovery (the percentage and any cost arrangement will be spelled out in writing in the retainer before you sign). The case review is free either way.
Sources
• FCC: Robocalls and Telemarketing• FTC: Telemarketing Sales Rule Guidance
• 47 U.S.C. § 227: Telephone Consumer Protection Act