Helpful Tips for Regulations

All text messages travel via carriers, and registration/verification with the carrier is a necessary part of being able to use the Textel platform (see Registering for 10DLC).  Carrier rules and regulations are constantly changing, but Textel offers these tips to help you use our platform with as little disruption as possible.  Customers who send SMS and MMS messages with prohibited content will find the messages blocked by default.

The following message content categories are generally prohibited for SMS and MMS messages:

• High-risk financial services 

  • Pay-day loans

  • Short-term high-interest loans

  • 3rd party loans

• Third-party lead generation where content is shared with third parties

• Debt collection and forgiveness

  • Debt reduction

  • Credit repair programs

• “Get rich quick” schemes or multi-level marketing

  • Work from Home programs

  • Job Alerts from Third Party Recruiting Firms 

  • Risk Investment Opportunities

• Federally Illegal substances

  • CBD 

  • Cannabis

  • Marijuana

  • Prescription medication

• Gambling

• Sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, and tobacco (which is referred to as “SHAFT”)

  • Adult content

  • Hate/discriminatory speech

  • Profanity

    For more details, please see this article on Forbidden Texting Content

We highlight in particular these three categories that have affected Textel customers from time to time.

• Textel salon and spa customers are advised against mentioning CBD and cannabis in their messaging, regardless of how acceptable or popular it is in their area. Any reference to CBD or cannabis on your website may also impact your ability to have carriers deliver your text messages. 

• Opt-in consents are narrowly construed.  If you have multiple brands, you must have opt-in consent specific to the brands referenced in your SMS/MMS message and may be blocked from sending messages about different brands you own.  This opt-in consent applies only to that brand and to the specific use case or campaign to which the recipient has consented. This opt-in consent may not be used to send messages from your other brands or other companies you may have or for additional messages that would fall under other use-cases or campaigns. 

• Financial institution messages may face extra scrutiny: 

• If marketing loans, the lender needs to explain that it would be servicing the loans offered (1st party) & the opt-in process and Privacy Policy must be clear that customer information is not shared with 3rd parties (for any purpose other than providing the lender's services). 

• If customer care, it is important that the lender be clear that the messaging is only customer care (such as suspicious card activity, appointment reminders, and other transactional messages) & the opt-in process and Privacy Policy must be clear that customer information is not shared with 3rd parties (for any purpose other than providing the lender's services). 

This information is not legal advice. While we do our best to provide useful information to use as a starting point, Textel advises all customers to obtain professional legal advice to ensure that all marketing campaigns are sent in full compliance with all applicable laws.