A paging receiver is capable of receiving message data. The receiver includes a data set and a hold circuit, the output logic of which is inverted in response to the detection of a control signal which follows a paging number individually assigned to that receiver. The receiver is inhibited and excluded from or enabled and restored into a data service which is provided in response to a common or group call number for paging many and unspecified receivers. The inhibit or enable signal is provided by the output of the data set and hold circuit. The data set and hold circuit are powered by a power source which is different from a main power source of the receiver. The receiver determines whether or not the power source associated with the data set and hold circuit is present and, if it is not present, the receipt of the data service based on the common number is inhibited. To eliminate malfunctions due to static electricity, a train of pulses is used as a control signal which follows a paging signal assigned to the individual receiver. The data set and hold circuit responds to means for sensing the pulse train, whereby the receipt of the date service which is based on the common number is inhibited or recovered by an output of the data set and hold circuit.