SMS Terms and Messaging Policy

These terms describe Tattle Timer missed-commitment accountability text messages, opt-in, message frequency, HELP, STOP, START, and contact preferences.

Provider readiness: Public messaging policy is available for review. Live SMS remains disabled until toll-free approval, webhook verification, suppression, caps, and explicit provider enablement are complete.

Program description

Tattle Timer sends missed-commitment accountability text messages to verified Accountabilibuddies who agreed to receive them. Messages may include consent confirmations, phone verification codes, missed-deadline updates, proof-status notifications, preference links, and required support or opt-out messages.

Tattle Timer does not send anonymous messages, prank messages, cold invitations, or marketing blasts to contacts who have not opted in.

How SMS opt-in works

An app user manually shares an invite link with a trusted adult contact. The contact opens the link, confirms they are 18 or older, enters their own phone number, agrees to receive verification and missed-commitment accountability texts, verifies the phone number, and saves SMS preferences. SMS consent is not prechecked.

For toll-free SMS verification and provider review, see the SMS opt-in evidence page.

Sample opt-in wording:

I agree to receive Tattle Timer missed-commitment accountability SMS alerts and related verification, consent, support, and opt-out messages for [user name] at this phone number. Message frequency varies based on commitments and my preferences. Standard message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. I can change or revoke consent at any time.

Message frequency and costs

Message frequency varies based on commitments, missed deadlines, verification events, contact preferences, and safety/provider caps. Tattle Timer is designed to use frequency limits and quiet windows for Accountabilibuddies.

Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

HELP, STOP, and START

Reply HELP for help. A HELP response should identify Tattle Timer, explain that messages are opt-in missed-commitment accountability messages, provide a preference or support path where available, and remind the recipient they can reply STOP to opt out.

Reply STOP to opt out. STOP and reasonable opt-out variants should suppress future Tattle Timer SMS to that phone number unless the contact later completes a deliberate re-consent flow.

Reply START only restores SMS after Tattle Timer can confirm endpoint control and deliberate re-consent. Global suppression still wins until that happens.

Sample messages:

Tattle Timer: Jonathan missed 'Do laundry by 7 PM.' You're getting this because you opted into missed-commitment accountability SMS as Jonathan's Accountabilibuddy. Reply STOP to opt out or HELP for help.
Tattle Timer help: You're receiving missed-commitment accountability SMS because you opted in as someone's Accountabilibuddy. Reply STOP to opt out. Support: https://tattletimer.com/support/. Terms: https://tattletimer.com/sms-terms/. Privacy: https://tattletimer.com/privacy/.
Tattle Timer: you're opted out and will not receive further missed-commitment accountability SMS. Reply START to opt back in.
Tattle Timer: you're opted back in to missed-commitment accountability SMS for commitments you agreed to support. Reply STOP to opt out.

SMS privacy

SMS opt-in data and consent records are used to operate Tattle Timer messaging, support opt-out, prevent abuse, maintain compliance evidence, and troubleshoot delivery. We do not sell SMS opt-in data or share it with third parties for their own marketing or promotional purposes. No mobile information will be sold or shared with third parties for promotional or marketing purposes.

See the Privacy Policy for more information.

Voice opt-out and recordings

Where voice is enabled, Tattle Timer calls are prerecorded accountability calls for contacts who opted in. Calls should identify Tattle Timer, identify the requesting user, disclose prerecorded or AI-generated audio, and provide an opt-out path such as Press 9.

If a contact is offered a short voice-note recording, Tattle Timer should disclose the recording before it starts and explain that the recording may be sent to the user and may be transcribed or moderated.

Support

For support, opt-out help, or abuse reports, reply HELP where SMS is enabled or email jonathan@tattletimer.com.