Yeah, the text message thing was probably typical BS to shift blame.
If you feel like you simply have to acknowledge receipt of a payment for documentation, then make it as businessy and impersonal as possible. I also suggest email instead of text.
"Received your transfer of $14.99 on 11/01/2018. It was applied towards the $188.54 Visa bill for the month of November 2018."
Don't engage in anything more than that. He could very well say ”Happy New Year” or "Thanks, I hope you're doing good." My XW tried that, but in my mind my return address was always no-reply@joe2017.com.
The only non-business message I was ever interested in responding to was a full and sincere apology with real remorse and no expectations attached.
Save yourself. Nobody is coming! BD:11/2017 Filed:12/2017 Final: 2/2018
05/2018: H says "ILYBNILWY", BD 07/2018: Discovered A, confronted 09/2018: PA + other details emerge; H moved out 12/2018: I filed 03/2019: Divorce finalized
