Can I turn messages off?

[Electrician]

I like conversing with my customers through phone, text, and email. It seems like every service out there has their own messaging service that they want you to use, from Yelp to Facebook to Google itself.  And now I have my customers messaging me through Square for no other reason then they saw the option when I sent them an estimate/invoice.

I would really rather keep the conversation to text or phone or email. Can I turn messaging off so customers can’t Message me through Square?

Edit:  I would like to give a little background on this. Here is an example, earlier today a customer called me wanting a car charger installed. I asked him to text me a few pictures in which he did. We then had a long conversation back-and-forth through text message in which he was asking me some questions about the installation and I was asking him questions about his house. I then sent him an estimate through Square.

Then he messaged me through Square asking some more questions in which we went back-and-forth.  Now the conversation is broken up across two different services.

In a few days or a few weeks when I want to refer back to our messages to see measurements or other specifications, I’m going to have to search around for where that part of the conversation took place, through texts or through Square messaging.

It’s just a complication that I don’t need.

[BernadetteA]

Hi @Electrician Thanks for posting 😊

I just want to make sure I'm understanding the entire process. Are you using Square Appointments and creating Invoices? The messaging feature can be disabled through Square Appointments, but it sounds like you sent the estimate by invoice? 

[Electrician]

Hi Bernadette. I do not use Square Appointments at all.  I only use the Invoice app on my iPhone as well as Invoicing thru the website. 

Again today the messaging feature caused me issues. Three different customers messaged me through Square because they saw that feature on estimates or invoices that I sent them.

Each time I had to do extra work to reply to their messages. I received an email saying that they sent me a message. I had to click the link in the email which opened my browser on my iPhone and took me to squares website in which I had to enter my email address and password yet again. All three times.

I would rather the customer just email me directly so I could respond to them through email and keep everything in one place.

 That’s what they would end up doing if they didn’t see the messaging option in the invoice or estimate that I sent them.

As for having to login each time, I also just had to login to Square as well as do a Capatcha test in order to make this post. It’s infuriating. 

[BernadetteA]

Sorry for my delayed reply here, @Electrician

I'm double checking with the team, and just waiting on some clarification on expected behavior. In the meantime, can you let me know how you send the invoice to the customer? Are you using the text or email option? 

[Electrician]

Generally email. 

[BernadetteA]

Thanks for confirming. I’ve gone ahead and escalated a case directly to the team that handles these situations, so someone can take a look. Thank you for your patience.