A method and system are provided for allowing a subscriber of voicemail services to selectively deactivate a voicemail system and to designate a reviewed voicemail message as "unheard." A subscriber to voicemail services provided by a telecommunications network-based system contacts the voicemail system and deactivates voicemail services temporarily or indefinitely. Subsequent callers forwarded to the subscriber's voicemail box at the voicemail system receive an announcement that the called party is not presently accepting voicemail messages. Alternatively, no announcement is provided to the calling party, and the calling party simply receives a busy signal or an unanswered call indication. Once the subscriber is ready to begin receiving messages in her voicemail box, the subscriber may reactivate the voicemail system. If the subscriber does accept voicemail messages, and the subscriber receives and reviews voicemail messages, the subscriber may designate any reviewed message as "unheard" so that an audible or visual indication of the presence of voicemail message is reactivated to subsequently alert the subscriber or other user of the presence of voicemail messages in the subscriber's voicemail box.