You can now record a contact's Communication Preferences in Rex Pocket the moment they ask, for example when someone at an open home asks you to stop texting them. You can block individual channels or mark the contact as Do Not Contact, and Pocket shows any blocks already set in the office.
This article covers how to open Communication Preferences in Pocket, how to record an opt-out at an open home, how the toggles work, and what's changed in Basic Information. For how Communication Preferences work in Rex on desktop, see - Contacts: Communication Preferences and Do Not Contact.
How Do I Open Communication Preferences in Pocket?
- In Pocket, open the contact
- Tap the ⋯ menu, then tap Communication Preferences
- Turn on Do Not Contact, or turn on the toggle for each channel you want to block (Email, SMS, Phone or Letter)
- Tap Save
You'll see the message Communication preferences updated and return to where you started. Tap Cancel instead to discard your changes. If you see Couldn't update preferences, try again, your toggles are kept as you set them so you can tap Save again.
The ⋯ menu with Communication Preferences appears wherever you see a contact in Pocket, including contact lists, attendee lists and contact cards.
How Do I Record an Opt-Out at an Open Home in Pocket?
In Australia and New Zealand, you can open Communication Preferences for an attendee without leaving open home check-in:
- From the attendee list: go to Open Homes, open the open home, go to Attendees, tap Actions on the attendee, then tap Communication Preferences
- From the attendee panel: tap the attendee, then tap the Communication Preferences button at the end of the panel
❗ Please Note: After saving from an attendee, the attendee list may show the previous preferences until it refreshes. Your change has still been saved.
❗ Please Note: Communication Preferences can't be updated while Pocket is offline. If you're at an open home with no signal, record the preference once you're back online. For more on this, see - Open Homes in Pocket: Offline Mode.
In the United Kingdom, Pocket doesn't show the Open Homes menu, so use the contact's ⋯ menu instead.
What Do the Do Not Contact and Channel Toggles Do in Pocket?
In Pocket, every toggle on the Communication Preferences screen is a block. Off means you can contact them on that channel, and on means that channel is blocked. The rules are the same as in Rex on desktop:
- Turning on Do Not Contact blocks and locks all four channels, and the screen shows This contact is marked as Do Not Contact. All channels are blocked.
- Blocking all four channels turns Do Not Contact on
- Turning Do Not Contact off unblocks all four channels. Previous channel blocks are not restored, so set any channel blocks again afterwards
- Blocking Phone is a visual reminder only and doesn't stop calls
Changes saved in Pocket show on the contact in Rex on desktop straight away, and apply from the next send. For what Rex does when a channel is blocked, see - Contacts: Communication Preferences and Do Not Contact.
What Changed in Basic Information in Pocket?
In Pocket, when you edit a contact's Basic Information, the old Contactable dropdown has been replaced by a Communication preferences row. The row shows one of:
- Okay to contact
- Do not contact
- Some channels blocked, followed by the blocked channels, for example Some channels blocked (Email, SMS)
Tap the row to open the same Communication Preferences screen. Saving Basic Information in Pocket keeps any channel blocks already on the contact, including blocks set on desktop.
❗ Please Note: Older versions of Pocket still show the Contactable dropdown, and choosing Okay to contact there unblocks every channel. Make sure everyone in your agency updates Pocket to the latest version.
Why Can't I See Communication Preferences in Pocket?
If Communication Preferences doesn't appear in Pocket:
- Update Pocket to the latest version from the App Store or Google Play
- If it's still missing, check that you have the privilege to update contacts
🔒 Admin Only: Pocket hides the Communication Preferences option if the user doesn't have the privilege to update that contact. An admin can check the user's privileges in Rex.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to turn on Communication Preferences in Pocket?
No. Update Pocket to the latest version and it's there for every account.
Are preferences set in Pocket the same as preferences set on desktop?
Yes. Pocket and desktop use the same five settings and the same rules, and changes made in Pocket show on desktop straight away.
I turned Do Not Contact off in Pocket and my SMS block disappeared. Why?
Turning Do Not Contact off unblocks every channel. Set the channel blocks again afterwards.
Will editing a contact in Pocket undo blocks set in the office?
Not on the latest version of Pocket. Saving Basic Information keeps existing channel blocks. Older versions of Pocket can still unblock every channel, so make sure Pocket is up to date.
Can I record a preference in Pocket at an open home with no signal?
Not at this stage. Record the preference once you're back online.
Can I update preferences for lots of contacts at once in Pocket?
No. Preferences are updated one contact at a time. Pocket self check-in and kiosk don't include this option either.