Obtaining copies of text messages

[Dee77]

Does anyone here know if it is possible to get print-outs of the actual messages that are exchanged through text messages for phones within one's family plan? TIA

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I am not sure because I was told by Tmobile a few years ago no. However, I think that the police can subpoena them for you if it involves a crime. Maybe things have changed since then though.

I guess the best thing to do would be to call and ask your carrier.

 

[RitaZ.]

I don't think so. You'd need a subpoena to get those records.

 

[FireDancer]

I am not certain but I'm pretty sure you can get data about the texts like time stamps, who they were to and from, and even which towers they were sent and received from but not the content of the texts. I'm not 100% on that though.

Whatever you can get will require a subpoena. Even if the phone is part of a family plan if it is not your phone you can't get the data. Even getting the records from the phone of your own minor children requires a subpoena. If the cell companies don't keep a copy of the text body, which I'm pretty sure is the case, they can't give that over even with a subpoena, just the metadata.

 

[Dee77]

Wow that's pretty complicated, not worth it just to get a family phone number in Ireland that my Mom deleted in a text message. I guess I am off to facebook to see if there's an easier and quicker way to re-connect with a distant cousin. Thanks everyone!

 

[brockash]

I am not certain but I'm pretty sure you can get data about the texts like time stamps, who they were to and from, and even which towers they were sent and received from but not the content of the texts. I'm not 100% on that though.

Whatever you can get will require a subpoena. Even if the phone is part of a family plan if it is not your phone you can't get the data. Even getting the records from the phone of your own minor children requires a subpoena. If the cell companies don't keep a copy of the text body, which I'm pretty sure is the case, they can't give that over even with a subpoena, just the metadata.

If you have Verizon, I know for a fact you can access the text time stamps, to it was to and from just by accessing your usage data online. You don't need a subpoena for that info., if you're the "owner" of the plan.

 

[Mickey527]

On Judge Judy the other day one of the people went to her phone service and had them print out all the texts, time and dates they were sent,what number they were sent from and what they said.
Judge Judy said it made her life easier because she hated to read the little screens.

 

[horseshowmom]

Does anyone here know if it is possible to get print-outs of the actual messages that are exchanged through text messages for phones within one's family plan? TIA

Wow that's pretty complicated, not worth it just to get a family phone number in Ireland that my Mom deleted in a text message. I guess I am off to facebook to see if there's an easier and quicker way to re-connect with a distant cousin. Thanks everyone!

You realize, of course, that this is not the direction everybody thought this thread was going to go, don't you?

Hooray for everyday and mundane!

 

[DMRick]

If I can help, my son lives in Ireland. PM with what info you have and I"ll see if he can find it on their reverse pages or in a phone book. He's in regular Ireland, not Northern. Not too far from Dublin.

 

[SandrA9810]

I want to say more and more phone companies are offering "big brother" programs on your account if you access it online. I'm not sure which companies do it, or how, but I've been hearing about it more and more as sexting is becoming more and more popular with teens. And parents wanting to be more nosey.

 

[Dee77]

You realize, of course, that this is not the direction everybody thought this thread was going to go, don't you?

Hooray for everyday and mundane!

Oh my... I did not even think of that.... Thanks for the laugh!

It is officially daytime in Ireland and my 1st cousin on Facebook put me in direct connection with our other cousin in about 3 minutes, much quicker than trying to get a subpoena

 

[DeluxePrincess]

You realize, of course, that this is not the direction everybody thought this thread was going to go, don't you?

I know, right? OP, I was waiting for a much more "interesting" story!

 

[SaraJayne]

Oh my... I did not even think of that.... Thanks for the laugh!

It is officially daytime in Ireland and my 1st cousin on Facebook put me in direct connection with our other cousin in about 3 minutes, much quicker than trying to get a subpoena

Great it worked out so quickly!

Count me as another person surprised by what you needed the text for.

 

[Hannathy]

I know, right? OP, I was waiting for a much more "interesting" story!

Yep I was having a very boring Friday night and was hoping for something "interesting" also!

 

[horseshowmom]

Oh my... I did not even think of that.... Thanks for the laugh!

It is officially daytime in Ireland and my 1st cousin on Facebook put me in direct connection with our other cousin in about 3 minutes, much quicker than trying to get a subpoena

 

[golfgal]

Can you just make up a better story why you needed the text

 

[cm8]

Can you just make up a better story why you needed the text

I know right? I was like oh my, someone goose is about to get cooked