Text message rules every mover should know (TCPA and 10DLC)

Customers answer texts much faster than emails or calls, which makes texting one of the best tools a moving office has. It also comes with rules. Breaking them can mean blocked messages, carrier fines or a lawsuit under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

This is a general guide, not legal advice. Talk to a lawyer about your own texting program, especially for marketing messages.

Get consent first

Texting someone about a move they asked about is different from sending them a promotion. Either way, the safest habit is clear consent: a checkbox or sentence on your quote form that says you'll text them about their move, and that message and data rates may apply.

• Keep a record of when and how each customer agreed.
• For marketing texts (coupons, seasonal offers), get separate written consent.
• Never buy phone lists and text them.

Honor STOP right away

When someone replies STOP (or UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, QUIT), stop texting them, except for one message confirming they're unsubscribed. Your texting software should do this automatically and keep the opt-out across every phone number your company uses.

Respect quiet hours

Don't send texts early in the morning or late at night in the customer's own time zone. Federal rules point to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and some states are stricter. Automatic follow-ups should wait until morning instead of firing at midnight.

Register for 10DLC

If you text from a regular local phone number through software, US carriers require you to register your business and your texting use (called a 10DLC registration through The Campaign Registry). Unregistered messages get filtered or blocked.

• You'll need your legal business name, EIN, address and website.
• Describe your use honestly: "Move quotes, scheduling and updates for customers who request a quote."
• Include sample messages and your opt-in wording.
• Approval usually takes days to a few weeks, so start early.

Say who you are

Start the first message with your company name, and use it again whenever a customer might not recognize the number. "This is Harbor Movers" saves a lot of confused replies and spam reports.

A simple checklist

• Consent sentence on every form that collects a phone number.
• STOP handled automatically, across all numbers.
• No texts outside 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time.
• Business and campaign registered for 10DLC.
• Company name in the first message.