A system and method for notifying a user of urgent phone messages is provided. When a telephone or text message is received by the phone answering system, a priority is determined for the message. If the telephone call is identified as an urgent telephone call, the system repeatedly dials the subscriber's phone in order to notify the user of the urgent message. In one embodiment, multiple locations, such as pagers, email addresses, and alternate phone numbers are contacted in order to inform the user of the urgent message. When the user is contacted, the urgent messages are played for the user. In a mobile telephone system environment, determinations are made as to whether the user is operating in roam mode before messages are delivered. A caller id function can further be included to selectively allow messages to be identified as urgent based upon the identification of the caller.