Paste into WordPress page titled "SMS Compliance" or "10DLC Compliance" | Last Updated: July 25, 2026
What Is 10DLC and Why It Matters
10DLC stands for 10-Digit Long Code — a standard 10-digit phone number that businesses use to send application-to-person (A2P) SMS text messages. Unlike short codes (5- or 6-digit numbers used for mass marketing), 10DLC numbers look like ordinary phone numbers and are designed for higher-quality, lower-volume business messaging.
All 10DLC messaging in the United States is regulated through The Campaign Registry (TCR), a centralized system operated by U.S. wireless carriers — including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. TCR vets every business sender and every messaging campaign before messages can be delivered.
As of February 2025, carrier enforcement is mandatory. Unregistered business SMS traffic is blocked entirely — no throttling, no warning, no delivery. To send SMS messages to clients, a business must register its brand (verifying the company's identity) and each messaging campaign (describing the use case, providing proof of opt-in consent, and submitting sample messages for carrier review).
Debt Recovery Experts (DRE) has completed brand and campaign registration through TCR and our messaging provider. Every SMS message we send is routed through a registered, compliant campaign — ensuring our clients receive the information they need, when they need it, with full transparency about who is contacting them and why.
Our Commitment to Compliant Messaging
DRE is committed to full compliance with all applicable laws, carrier codes of conduct, and industry best practices governing SMS messaging. Specifically, we adhere to:
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) — 47 U.S.C. § 227. We obtain prior express consent before sending any SMS message. We honor opt-out requests immediately. We recognize that TCPA violations carry statutory damages of $500 to $1,500 per violation, and we treat compliance accordingly.
- CTIA Messaging Principles and Best Practices — The wireless industry's framework for lawful, consumer-friendly business messaging.
- T-Mobile Code of Conduct and AT&T Code of Conduct — Carrier-specific requirements for A2P messaging, including prohibited content categories and consent standards.
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) — 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., where applicable to third-party debt collection communications.
- Texas Debt Collection Act (TDCA) — Texas Finance Code Chapter 392, governing debt collection practices within the state.
Our SMS practices are:
- Transactional and informational only. DRE does not send marketing or promotional text messages.
- Clearly identified. Every message includes the DRE business name so the recipient knows who is contacting them.
- Logged and auditable. All SMS activity is recorded and available for compliance review.
- Governed by documented policy. Our SMS practices are part of our Compliance Manual (§9 — TCPA), which governs all DRE communications.
Types of Messages You May Receive
DRE sends SMS messages only when there is a meaningful update on your claim or account. We do not send "checking in" messages or marketing content.
| Message Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Payment Reminders | Notifications about upcoming or past-due payments related to an active claim |
| Claim Status Updates | Information about where your claim stands in the recovery process |
| Demand Letter Notifications | Alerts that a demand letter has been issued or is available for review |
| Account Notifications | Updates related to an outstanding balance or account activity |
| Document Availability | Notices that new documents — such as settlement offers or status reports — are available in the client portal |
What we do NOT send:
- Promotional or marketing messages
- Debt consolidation, debt reduction, or debt forgiveness offers
- Content related to sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, or tobacco (SHAFT content is prohibited on all 10DLC campaigns)
Every DRE SMS message is framed as a neutral business notification — not a collection attempt. A typical message reads: "DRE: Your claim #12345 has a status update. Log in to view details: https://my.debtrecoveryexperts.com Reply STOP to opt out."
How to Opt In
DRE sends SMS messages only to clients who have expressly consented to receive them. Consent is obtained through:
- Claim Intake Form. When you submit a claim, you are presented with a standalone SMS consent checkbox (not pre-ticked). The checkbox clearly states the types of messages you may receive and the approximate frequency.
- Client Portal Registration. During account creation, you may opt in to SMS notifications with a clear, separate consent mechanism.
- Limited Power of Attorney (LPOA). The LPOA agreement includes an SMS consent provision.
Consent is specific to SMS communications and is not bundled into general Terms of Use acceptance. DRE maintains a consent log for every recipient — recording the timestamp, method, and scope of consent.
We never purchase phone number lists or send SMS to numbers obtained from third parties.
How to Opt Out
You may stop receiving SMS messages from DRE at any time, through any of the following methods:
| Method | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Reply STOP | Send STOP in reply to any DRE text message. Opt-out is processed immediately. |
| Reply UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, or QUIT | Any of these standard keywords will also process your opt-out. |
| Reply HELP | Receive information about the SMS program and DRE contact details. |
| Call our office | Speak with a representative who will process your opt-out. |
| Email support | Send a request to our support email address. |
| Client Portal | Update your notification preferences in your account settings. |
Per the FCC's 2024 consent revocation order, you may revoke consent through any reasonable method — not just the STOP keyword. DRE honors all opt-out requests promptly.
Opt-out is permanent by default. Once you opt out, you will not receive further SMS messages from any DRE campaign unless you choose to re-enroll by providing fresh, affirmative consent. DRE maintains suppression lists across voice and SMS channels to ensure compliance.
Message Frequency
DRE sends SMS messages only when there is a genuine update. We do not send routine or scheduled messages just to "check in."
- Payment reminders: 1–2 per billing cycle
- Claim status updates: As events occur — typically 1–3 per month
- Demand letter notifications: Once per letter issued
We will not send more than 4 messages per month to any single recipient across all DRE campaigns. Our TCPA policy (Compliance Manual §9) further caps all communications at 3 contact attempts per 7-day period — and this applies to SMS as well as phone calls.
All messages are sent during business hours — 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the recipient's local time zone — in compliance with TCPA quiet-hours restrictions.
Message and Data Rates
DRE does not charge any fee for sending or receiving SMS messages. However, message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile carrier and plan. Please check your plan for details. Standard carrier rates for text messages sent and received will apply based on your individual service agreement with your wireless provider.
Privacy Protections
Your privacy is core to how we handle SMS communications:
- No sale of phone numbers. DRE never sells, rents, or shares your phone number — or any other personal data — with third parties for their marketing purposes.
- Encryption. Phone numbers and message content are encrypted in transit using TLS and at rest using AES-256, consistent with our Privacy Policy.
- No sensitive content via SMS. We never send account numbers, Social Security Numbers, payment details, or full claim information through text messages.
- Data retention. SMS logs are retained in accordance with DRE's data retention policy.
- Texas Data Privacy and Security Act. Texas residents have rights to access, correct, and delete their personal data, including SMS-related information.
For full details, please read our Privacy Policy.
Sample Messages (For Carrier Review)
DRE uses the following message templates for all SMS communications. These templates have been approved by The Campaign Registry as compliant with carrier standards:
- Claim Status Update: "DRE: Your claim #12345 has a status update. Log in to view details: https://my.debtrecoveryexperts.com Reply STOP to opt out."
- Payment Reminder: "DRE Payment Reminder: A payment of $X.XX is due on [date] for claim #12345. Contact us with questions: [phone] Reply STOP to opt out."
- Demand Letter Notification: "DRE: A demand letter has been issued for claim #12345. View in your portal: [URL] Reply STOP to opt out."
- Document Available: "DRE: New documents are available for your account. Visit https://my.debtrecoveryexperts.com or call [phone]. Reply STOP to opt out."
All messages include clear sender identification (DRE), the reason for the message, a contact method for questions, and a STOP opt-out instruction.
Contact for SMS Concerns
If you have questions about our SMS program, wish to report an unwanted message, or need help with opt-in or opt-out:
Debt Recovery Experts (DRE) [Street Address] [City], TX Phone: [Phone] Email: support@debtrecoveryexperts.com
DRE takes all SMS-related complaints seriously. We investigate every report and respond within one business day.
⚠️ ATTORNEY REVIEW REQUIRED: Specific areas of this page — particularly the TCPA consent standard (prior express consent vs. prior express written consent), FDCPA communication restrictions for represented debtors, Mini-Miranda disclosure requirements within SMS character limits, and the scope of the FCC's one-to-one consent rule post-11th Circuit vacatur — should be reviewed by a licensed attorney familiar with TCPA, FDCPA, and 10DLC carrier requirements before publication.
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