10DLC Compliance and Registration Guide

Ensuring compliance with 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) regulations is essential for businesses that rely on SMS messaging, especially collection agencies, law firms, and credit companies. 10DLC was introduced to improve the security and deliverability of business text messages, but non-compliance can lead to heavy fines or message filtering by carriers. According to industry data, unregistered 10DLC messages can face delivery failure rates, significantly impacting consumer communication. 

By properly registering for 10DLC and following compliance guidelines, businesses can ensure their messages reach recipients while maintaining legal and industry standards. In this guide, we’ll cover what 10DLC compliance entails, why it matters for debt collection and legal communications, and how to complete the registration process smoothly.

What is 10DLC Compliance?

10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) compliance refers to the regulations businesses must follow when using standard phone numbers for SMS messaging. Unlike traditional shortcodes or toll-free numbers, 10DLC is designed specifically for business messaging, offering improved deliverability and higher output while maintaining compliance with carrier guidelines.

How 10DLC Differs from Short Codes and Toll-Free Numbers

• 10DLC: Standard 10-digit phone numbers used for business messaging with higher trust and lower filtering risks when registered.
• Short Codes: Typically 5-6 digit numbers used for high-volume messaging, often more expensive but allow mass SMS sending.
• Toll-Free Numbers: These can be used for texting but may face stricter filtering and lower put than 10DLC.

Regulations Set by Carriers and Industry Organizations

Carriers and industry organizations, such as The Campaign Registry (TCR) and the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), enforce 10DLC compliance to prevent spam, fraud, and misuse. These regulations require businesses to register their messaging campaigns, ensuring transparency and legitimacy.

Ensuring messages reach consumers without being blocked is critical for collection agencies and legal professionals. Here’s why 10DLC compliance is essential for message deliverability, legal protection, and consumer trust.

Why 10DLC Compliance Matters for Debt Collection 

10DLC compliance ensures your debt collection messages reach consumers without being blocked or flagged as spam. Staying compliant also helps avoid fines and legal risks while maintaining client trust.

1. Ensuring Message Deliverability and Avoiding Carrier Blocks

Carriers have strict filtering mechanisms to prevent spam and unauthorized messaging. Without proper 10DLC registration, messages sent by collection agencies, law firms, or credit companies may be blocked or delayed. Compliance helps ensure that important debt collection notices, payment reminders, and legal communications reach consumers reliably.

2. Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)

The TCPA regulates how businesses can communicate with consumers via phone and text. Non-compliance can result in fines and legal action. Registering a 10DLC campaign ensures that companies follow industry standards, reducing the risk of violating consumer protection laws.

3. Enhancing Trust and Transparency with Consumers

Consumers are more likely to engage with messages from registered and verified business numbers. 10DLC compliance helps establish legitimacy, making it easier for collection agencies and law firms to build trust and encourage timely responses from debtors.

Seamlessly integrate 10DLC compliance with your existing systems using Tratta’s REST APIs. 

Registering for 10DLC may seem complex, but following the proper steps makes the process smoother. 

Step-by-Step Guide to 10DLC Registration

Registering for 10DLC is essential for ensuring your messages are delivered without carrier issues. Follow these steps to complete the process smoothly.

1. Registering Your Business with The Campaign Registry (TCR)

To begin the 10DLC registration process, businesses must register with The Campaign Registry (TCR), the central organization that manages 10DLC compliance. This step verifies your business identity and ensures your messaging aligns with industry regulations.

2. Choosing a Campaign Type That Fits Your Messaging Use Case

After registering your business, select a campaign type based on how you plan to use SMS messaging. Common campaign types for collection agencies, law firms, and credit companies include:

• Customer Care – For account updates, payment reminders, and support messages.
• Financial Services – For debt collection notices and legal communication.
• Marketing and Promotions – For outreach campaigns related to financial services.

Selecting the right campaign type helps avoid unnecessary filtering and improves message deliverability.

3. Submitting Required Information and Waiting for Approval

Once the campaign type is selected, businesses must submit details such as:

• Business name, industry, and tax identification number.
• A sample of the messages they intend to send.
• Opt-in and opt-out procedures to ensure compliance.

After submission, carriers review the registration, which typically takes a few days. Once approved, businesses can send compliant messages with reduced risk of blocking or filtering.

Beyond registration, businesses must meet specific compliance requirements to avoid message filtering or penalties. Here’s what you need to know about consent, content guidelines, and message volume limits.

Key Compliance Requirements for 10DLC Messaging

Meeting 10DLC compliance requirements helps ensure your messages reach consumers without disruptions. Here’s what you need to stay compliant.

1. Obtaining Consumer Consent and Following Opt-In Rules

Before sending messages, businesses must obtain clear and documented consent from consumers. This can be done through:

• Web forms where users check a box to agree to receive messages.
• Verbal consent during customer service interactions, with a recorded confirmation.
• Text opt-ins, where users send a keyword (e.g., "YES") to confirm subscription.

Consumers should also have an easy way to opt out anytime by replying with "STOP."

2. Message Content Guidelines to Prevent Filtering

To ensure messages reach recipients, businesses must follow carrier-approved content guidelines. Messages should:

• Be transparent about who is sending them.
• Avoid misleading or deceptive language.
• Include relevant opt-out instructions.

Debt collection and legal messages must comply with TCPA and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) regulations, ensuring professional and non-harassing communication.

3. Volume Limits and Throughput Considerations

Carriers impose volume and throughput limits based on business type and registration status. To maximize message deliverability:

• Choose an appropriate campaign type to avoid unnecessary restrictions.
• Work with a provider that offers carrier-approved throughput.
• Monitor sending patterns to ensure messages aren't flagged as spam.

Meeting these requirements helps businesses maintain compliance while improving message effectiveness and consumer engagement.

Gain deep insights into messaging performance and compliance with Tratta’s Reporting and Analytics tools.

Even with proper registration, businesses may face roadblocks such as delays, message rejections, or changing carrier regulations. Here’s how to navigate these challenges effectively.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Navigating 10DLC compliance can come with hurdles like registration delays and message filtering. Here’s how to tackle these challenges effectively.

1. Delays in Registration and How to Expedite Approval

Many businesses experience delays when registering for 10DLC due to incomplete or inaccurate submissions. To speed up approval:

• Ensure all business details (legal name, EIN, industry) match official records.
• Choose the correct campaign type that aligns with your messaging use case.
• Work with a trusted messaging provider that can help navigate The Campaign Registry (TCR) process.

2. Avoiding Message Rejections Due to Improper Formatting

Carriers may filter or block messages that don’t meet formatting standards. To prevent rejections:

• Clearly identify your business name in every message.
• Include opt-out instructions (e.g., “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”).
• Avoid using spam-triggering language or excessive capitalization.

3. Staying Compliant with Evolving Carrier Regulations

Carriers frequently update their 10DLC policies, and non-compliance can lead to blocked messages or fines. Stay ahead by:

• Regularly reviewing carrier guidelines and industry updates.
• Implementing automated compliance checks through your messaging platform.
• Partnering with a provider that offers compliance monitoring and real-time alerts.

Once you’re registered and compliant, the next step is optimizing your messaging strategy. Follow these best practices to improve engagement, maintain compliance, and build consumer trust.

Best Practices for Effective and Compliant 10DLC Messaging

Following best practices ensures your 10DLC messages are both practical and compliant. Here’s how to craft clear messages and stay within regulations.

1. Crafting Clear and Legally Sound Messages

To maintain compliance and ensure positive engagement, messages should be:

• Concise and transparent – Clearly state the purpose of the message.
• Identifiable – Include your business name to build trust.
• Compliant – Avoid misleading language and provide opt-out options (e.g., "Reply STOP to unsubscribe").

2.  Using Automation Tools for Compliance Monitoring

Automation helps streamline compliance by:

• Detecting policy violations before messages are sent.
• Ensuring opt-in and opt-out requirements are consistently followed.
• Providing real-time alerts for potential carrier filtering issues.

3. Keeping Records of Consumer Opt-Ins and Message Logs

Maintaining accurate records is crucial for proving compliance. Best practices include:

• Storing opt-in confirmations for each consumer.
• Keep logs of messages sent to track communication history.
• Regularly reviewing compliance reports to identify and fix issues.

By following these best practices, businesses can improve message delivery rates, build consumer trust, and reduce the risk of compliance violations.

Conclusion

Compliance with 10DLC regulations is essential for ensuring reliable message delivery and avoiding penalties. Proper registration helps maintain consumer trust and keeps your messaging efforts legally sound and practical. If your business relies on text messaging for debt collection or legal communications, now is the time to ensure you're fully registered and compliant.

Need help with 10DLC compliance? Let Tratta make it easier for you with our user-friendly services. Book a demo today!