Remove a scheduled message for a client in eCourtDate to prevent outdated or incorrect communications from being sent.

### Overview

Scheduled messages in eCourtDate are queued to send at a specific date and time. If circumstances change and a message is no longer needed, you can delete it before it is sent. This ensures clients only receive accurate, relevant communications from your agency.

- **What it does:** Permanently removes a scheduled message from the queue so it is not sent to the client
- **Why it matters:** Prevents outdated, duplicate, or incorrect information from reaching clients, which could cause confusion or missed obligations
- **Who uses it:** Agency administrators, clerks, officers, and staff who manage client communications
- **Expected outcome:** The scheduled message is permanently deleted and will not be sent on the scheduled date

### Prerequisites

Before deleting a scheduled message, make sure you have:

- Access to the client's profile in eCourtDate
- At least one scheduled message in the client's message queue
- Permission to manage messages for the client

### How-To Steps

#### Step 1: Search for the Client

1. Locate the **Global Search** bar at the top of any page in eCourtDate.
2. Enter the client's first name, middle name, last name, or client reference number.
3. Click on the matching client from the search results.

![Searching for clients on dashboard](https://s3.amazonaws.com/ecdassets/images/articles/client-search-bar.png)

#### Step 2: Open the Client Profile

1. Review the client profile to confirm you have selected the correct client.

![Client profile](https://s3.amazonaws.com/ecdassets/images/articles/client-profile-page.png)

#### Step 3: Select the Scheduled Message

1. Scroll down to the **Scheduled Messages** section on the client profile.
2. Click on the message you want to delete.

![One off message on the client profile](https://s3.amazonaws.com/ecdassets/images/articles/one-off-message.png)

#### Step 4: Delete the Message

1. Review the message details to confirm it is the correct message.
2. Click the **Trash** button on the message form.
3. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

![Edit message form](https://s3.amazonaws.com/ecdassets/images/articles/message-overivew-form.png)

### What to Expect

After confirming the deletion, the scheduled message is permanently removed from eCourtDate. It will not be sent to the client on the scheduled date. The deletion takes effect immediately and cannot be undone. If you need to send a similar message in the future, you will need to create a new scheduled message.

### Best Practices

- **Double-check the message before deleting.** Review the message content, recipient, and scheduled date to make sure you are deleting the correct message.
- **Delete promptly when events change.** If a hearing is rescheduled or canceled, remove the original reminder as soon as possible to avoid sending outdated information.
- **Consider editing instead of deleting.** If the message content needs a minor update, you can edit the scheduled message instead of deleting it and creating a new one.
- **Communicate with your team.** If multiple staff members manage the same client, let your team know when you delete a scheduled message to avoid confusion.
- **Review scheduled messages regularly.** Periodically check the scheduled messages queue for each client to ensure all pending messages are still relevant.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Can I undo the deletion of a scheduled message?**
A: No. Once a scheduled message is deleted, it cannot be recovered. You will need to create a new scheduled message if you want to send a similar message to the client.

**Q: Will the client be notified when I delete a scheduled message?**
A: No. Clients are not notified when a scheduled message is deleted in eCourtDate. The message is simply removed from the queue.

**Q: Can I edit a scheduled message instead of deleting it?**
A: Yes. You can edit a scheduled message before its scheduled date and time. Open the message from the **Scheduled Messages** section, make your changes, and click **Save** to update the message content.

**Q: What happens if I try to delete a message that has already been sent?**
A: You can only delete messages that are still in the scheduled queue. Once a message has been sent, it cannot be deleted or recalled. You would see it in the sent messages list rather than the scheduled messages list.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** The scheduled message does not appear in the client's profile.
**Symptoms:** You navigate to the client profile but do not see the message in the **Scheduled Messages** section.
**Solution:**

1. Verify you are viewing the correct client by checking the client's name and reference number.
2. Check whether the message has already been sent by looking in the client's sent messages list.
3. Confirm the message was not already deleted by another team member.

**Issue:** The Trash button is not available on the message form.
**Symptoms:** You open the scheduled message but do not see a **Trash** button.
**Solution:**

1. Confirm you have the necessary permissions to delete messages.
2. Check whether the message is currently being processed or sent, as messages in transit cannot be deleted.
3. Contact your agency administrator to verify your role has message deletion permissions.

> **Important:** If you continue to experience issues after following these troubleshooting steps, sign in to eCourtDate and create a ticket by clicking the ticket button in the bottom right corner of the screen.

### Related Articles

- [How to Send a One-off Message](/how-to-send-a-one-off-message)
- [How to Send a Mass Message using Bulk Actions](/how-to-send-a-mass-message-using-bulk-actions)
- [Message Troubleshooting for Clients](/message-troubleshooting-for-clients)
- [Troubleshooting Automated Messages](/troubleshooting-automated-messages)