Methods and systems for enabling a subscriber to interrupt a review of messages in a voice mail system (VMS), to make a call or take some other action, and to return to the same position as occupied at the time of interruption in the review of messages in the VMS. In response to an indication from the SSP subscriber's communic ation to leave the review, an identifier is created to mark the position of the subscriber's communication in the review. The identifier is stared in the VMS. The VMS transmits a release message with respect to the subscriber's communication, the message including a copy of the identifier. The message may be a GR-1129 message including a remote operations (RO) parameter with the copy of the identifier. In response to the release message, a service control point (SCP) stores the copy of the identifier and causes whatever action is indicated in the message to be taken with respect to the subscriber's communication. In response to receipt of a release message from a network element other than the VMS, the SCP routes the subscriber's communication including the copy of the identifier to the VMS. The VMS uses the copy of the identifier with the identifier to place the subscriber's communication in the same position occupied previously in the review.