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Compliance8 min read

TCPA Compliance Guide

Everything you need to know about SMS compliance and regulations

Pinglo Keeps You Compliant

Pinglo has built-in compliance features including consent tracking, automatic quiet hours, and opt-out management. We make it easy to stay on the right side of regulations.

What is TCPA?

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a federal law that regulates telemarketing calls, auto-dialed calls, pre-recorded calls, text messages, and unsolicited faxes. For SMS marketing, TCPA requires you to obtain prior express written consent before sending marketing messages.

Key TCPA Requirements

1. Obtain Prior Express Written Consent

You must have explicit written permission before sending marketing texts. This can be obtained through web forms, text-to-join keywords, or paper forms.

2. Identify Yourself

Every marketing message must clearly identify your business name so recipients know who is contacting them.

3. Honor Opt-Out Requests

You must provide a clear way to opt out (e.g., "Reply STOP") and process opt-outs immediately. Pinglo handles this automatically.

4. Respect Quiet Hours

Don't send marketing messages before 8 AM or after 9 PM in the recipient's local time zone. Pinglo automatically enforces quiet hours.

5. Keep Records

Maintain records of consent for at least 4 years. Pinglo automatically tracks and stores consent records.

What You Should NOT Do

Send messages without consent
Buy phone number lists
Ignore opt-out requests
Send messages during quiet hours
Hide your business identity
Send messages to numbers on the Do Not Call list

Penalties for Non-Compliance

TCPA violations can result in fines of $500 - $1,500 per message. A single campaign to 10,000 recipients could result in $5-15 million in fines. Take compliance seriously!

Understanding 10DLC

10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) is a system that allows businesses to send Application-to-Person (A2P) messages using standard 10-digit phone numbers. All businesses sending SMS must register for 10DLC.

10DLC Registration Process:

  1. Register your business (Brand Registration)
  2. Register your use case (Campaign Registration)
  3. Wait for approval (typically 1-7 days)
  4. Start sending with higher throughput

Pinglo handles 10DLC registration for you as part of your onboarding process.

Compliant Consent Collection

Here's an example of a compliant consent form:

By entering your phone number and clicking "Subscribe," you consent to receive marketing text messages from [Your Business Name] at the number provided. Message frequency varies. Message & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe or HELP for help.

View our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

How Pinglo Helps You Stay Compliant

Consent Tracking

Automatically record when and how consent was obtained

Opt-Out Management

STOP keyword handling and list scrubbing

Quiet Hours

Automatic enforcement of sending time restrictions

10DLC Registration

Guided registration process with support

Compliance Templates

Pre-approved message templates

Audit Trails

Complete records for regulatory inquiries

Stay Compliant with Pinglo

Built-in compliance features keep your business protected.

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