diff --git a/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/ChatViewModel.kt b/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/ChatViewModel.kt
index f807ac91cd..7d6e2b7f45 100644
--- a/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/ChatViewModel.kt
+++ b/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/ChatViewModel.kt
@@ -1327,6 +1327,8 @@ internal class ChatViewModel @Inject constructor(
      */
     private fun thankForClaim(claim: SettledClaim) {
         val messageId = claimReplyTargets.settled(claim) ?: return
+        // After settled(), so the target is still consumed while the reply is off.
+        if (!CLAIM_THANKS_ENABLED) return
         val chatId = stateFlow.value.chatId ?: return
 
         // Decided on the collector, sent off it. The claim is consumed before this returns, so the
@@ -2561,6 +2563,12 @@ internal class ChatViewModel @Inject constructor(
          */
         private val CLAIM_REFRESH_INTERVAL = 15.seconds
 
+        /**
+         * Whether a collected claim is answered with [thankForClaim]'s reply. Off for now; the
+         * tap and claim bookkeeping still runs, so turning this back on is the only change needed.
+         */
+        private const val CLAIM_THANKS_ENABLED = false
+
         /** Long enough to coalesce a burst of typing, short enough to survive a fast exit. */
         private val DRAFT_WRITE_DEBOUNCE = 300.milliseconds