A2P 10 DLC FAQ

In this article, you will see the most frequently asked questions regarding A2P 10 DLC.

Question: What changes are being implemented for messaging from Canada to the United States?

Answer: Effective immediately, all messages sent from Canadian 10DLC numbers to U.S. recipients must come from Application-to-Person (A2P) registered numbers. This applies to both new and existing Canadian numbers.

Question: Are there any changes for messaging within Canada?

Answer: Yes, for new Canadian 10DLC numbers purchased after March 26, 2025, A2P registration will be mandatory to send messages to Canadian recipients. Existing Canadian 10DLC numbers used within Canada are not required to undergo A2P registration unless specified in the previous answer.

Question: What should I do if I have an existing Canadian 10DLC number and need to message the U.S.?

Answer: If your Canadian 10DLC number is not yet A2P registered, you should start the registration process immediately to comply with the new requirements for messaging U.S. recipients.

Question: What should I do if I’m purchasing a new Canadian 10DLC number?

Answer: If you purchase a new Canadian 10DLC number after March 26, 2025, ensure that it is A2P registered before sending messages to either U.S. or Canadian recipients.

Question: If we switch to Lead Connector, will we be automatically compliant?

Answer: If you switch to the LC Phone system within LeadConnector (LC), it does not automatically make you compliant with all regulations and requirements. While the LC Phone system provides tools and features to facilitate compliance, such as managing phone numbers and SMS campaigns, it is still essential to follow the necessary steps and guidelines to ensure full compliance with regulations like A2P 10DLC. It's crucial to stay informed about the compliance requirements relevant to your use case and consult with the LC support team or refer to their documentation for accurate guidance.

Question: What are the compliance requirements for Canada?

Answer: It's important to understand and adhere to the regulations set forth by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and the Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).

Consent: Obtain proper permission from recipients before sending them commercial electronic messages (CEMs), including SMS. Consent can be expressed or implied, depending on the nature of the relationship with the recipient.
Identification: Include accurate identification information in your messages, such as your business name and contact information.
Unsubscribe Mechanism: Provide recipients with a straightforward way to unsubscribe from receiving future messages from you. Ensure that opt-out requests are processed promptly.
Records of Consent: Maintain records of consent obtained from recipients, including information about when and how permission was obtained.
Compliance with CRTC Regulations: Comply with additional regulations set by the CRTC, such as those related to telemarketing, National Do Not Call List (DNCL), and other specific requirements for telecommunications service providers.

Question: Why can't we see the option to access the Trust Center in phone settings for Canadian clients?

Answer: The Trust Center is only visible currently to US businesses. To see the Trust Center option, enter the business profile settings and change the country to the US.

Question: I'm in the UK with no option for a Trust Profile. Do I need to worry about this for my USA numbers?

Answer: You can register for a toll-free number registration. Please, check our article that talks about that topic.

You can still use the system following the best practices so that the delivery rate is high and the SMS is not flagged. A2P campaign is just a more enhanced safety net for delivery, but that doesn't mean you cannot use the system without it.

You can follow these basic compliance rules, and you should be good to roll:

Add Opt-Out Language in all the first SMS sent to a contact -
Add SenderID in all the first SMS sent to a contact -
Do not send SMS to SMS-incapable devices like landlines; enable the number validation feature for this
Avoid sending URLs shortened using a public URL shortener

Question: Isn't there a minimum number of texts where the carriers would block SMS/texts?

Answer: Carriers have certain thresholds or limits that can trigger the blocking or filtering of text messages if they are suspected of spamming or violating certain regulations. While the specific entries may vary between carriers, there is generally a minimum number of texts or other factors that can raise suspicion and lead to message blocking.

When a person buys a new cell number, their texts are not typically blocked right away solely because they didn't register the number. However, if the number is being used for sending a large volume of unsolicited or unwanted messages, it could trigger suspicion and lead to message blocking by the carriers.

Question: I have an EIN, but I want to use a different Brand Name for my texts. Is this allowed?

Answer: Yes, but you must handle this as a DBA (Doing Business As). In the Campaign Use Case Description, you must include the sentence: "We are doing business as [Brand Name]." Your website, Privacy Policy, and opt-in forms must also clearly show the relationship between your Legal Business Name (on your tax docs) and the DBA name.

Answer: If you have an EIN (Employer Identification Number), you are not eligible to register for the Sole Proprietor (Sole Prop) registration category. The Sole Prop category is specifically designed for sole proprietors without an EIN.

Since you have an EIN and must register as Standard instead of Sole Prop, select the Standard registration option when updating or re-registering your information.

Question: Where do we go to find the Trust Center?

Answer:

Log in to your account.
Navigate to the "Phone Number settings."
Look for a menu or tab labeled "Trust Center."

Question: If our brand is registered, but the campaign itself is not, I would like to know if our phone numbers will remain operational after the deadline.

Answer: If your brand is registered, but the campaign itself needs to be registered by the deadline, it may impact the operational status of your phone numbers. The registration process is necessary to comply with A2P 10 DLC requirements, which aim to ensure the legitimacy and integrity of business messaging.

If your campaign is not registered, there is a possibility that your phone numbers could be subject to restrictions, such as reduced deliverability or being flagged as unregistered or unverified. This could affect the successful delivery of your SMS messages and potentially impact the overall effectiveness of your campaign.

Question: My address has changed since we registered our EIN. How do we handle that?

Answer: If your address has changed since registering your EIN (Employer Identification Number), you may need to update your business address in the appropriate registration system or with the relevant authorities. Here are some general steps to handle this situation:

Update your address with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Contact the IRS and provide them with the updated address for your business. You can do this by filling out Form 8822-B, "Change of Address or Responsible Party - Business," and submitting it to the IRS.

Update your address with the business registration authorities: Depending on your jurisdiction and the type of business entity you have, you may need to update your address with the appropriate business registration authorities. This could include state or provincial agencies or local government offices. Check the requirements and procedures specific to your location to ensure compliance.

Update your address in your business profiles and accounts. Notify relevant partners and stakeholders.

It's important to keep your business address up to date to ensure smooth communication and compliance with regulatory requirements. Remember to review the specific guidelines and procedures provided by the authorities in your jurisdiction for updating your address to ensure proper compliance with their regulations.

Question: Does the 6,000 sms segments per day mean per phone number or total per campaign?

Answer: The limit of 6,000 SMS segments per day typically refers to the total number of segments allowed for all messages sent within 24 hours. A single SMS message can consist of multiple segments, especially if it exceeds the character limit set by the SMS provider or includes special or non-standard characters.

Therefore, the limit applies to the cumulative number of segments across all the messages sent from a specific campaign or account within a day.

Question: What if your address has changed since you received the CP 575 form?

Answer: Suppose your address has changed since you received the CP 575 form, which is the form issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to assign an Employer Identification Number (EIN). In that case, updating your address with the IRS is important to ensure they have your current contact information.

To update your address with the IRS, you can follow these steps:

Fill out Form 8822, "Change of Address," which is the official form to notify the IRS of your new address. You can obtain this form from the IRS website or by contacting the IRS directly.

Provide your updated address information on Form 8822, including your EIN, old address, and new address.

Sign and date the form.

Mail the completed Form 8822 to the appropriate IRS address as specified in the form's instructions. Make sure to send it to the correct IRS office based on your location and the type of entity you are (e.g., individual, corporation, partnership).

By updating your address with the IRS, you ensure that they have accurate information for your business and can send important correspondence and documents to the correct address.

It's also a good practice to update your address with any other relevant entities, such as your state or local tax authorities, business partners, and service providers, to ensure they have your current contact information.

Question: I have a UK Ltd company, the UK company number, and all the fields are filled in, but no option for Trust Center. What should I do?

Answer: If you have a UK Limited (Ltd) company and do not see the option for the Trust Center, it is because it is specific to the United States, and the A2P 10DLC registration process is for US-based businesses.

Since the Trust Center is designed to facilitate compliance with US regulations and requirements, it is not applicable or available for businesses registered in the UK or other countries outside the United States.

Question: In the trust center, I cannot move past the first step. I received this message: "Customers with EIN are NOT ELIGIBLE for Sole Prop Registration, and submission might result in rejection." What do I do in that case?

Answer: Suppose you receive the message "Customers with EIN are NOT ELIGIBLE for Sole Prop Registration" in your Trust Center and cannot proceed with the registration process. In that case, it suggests that you cannot register as a sole proprietor without an EIN (Employer Identification Number).

In this case, you should explore the alternative registration option:

Standard Registration. - The Standard Registration is intended for businesses with an EIN. You may need to select the appropriate registration option based on your business structure and proceed with the Standard Registration process instead.

Question: For a sole prop, would you put the person's or DBA's name under the Business Details?

Answer: For a sole proprietorship, when filling out the Business Details section, you would typically enter the legal name of the business owner. This means you would provide the person's name rather than a Doing Business As (DBA) name.

The legal name refers to the sole proprietor's name as it appears on official documents such as government identification or tax records. It is essential to accurately enter the legal name to ensure compliance with registration requirements and to align with any existing legal documentation associated with the business.

Question: Does each account have to go through the registration process?

Answer: Regardless of geographic location, each account must go through the registration process to comply with the A2P 10DLC guidelines. The registration requirements apply to all businesses and agencies that use A2P messaging services within the United States.

Regardless of whether your accounts are located in the United States or other countries, if they use US-based phone numbers to send A2P messages, they must follow the registration process outlined by the A2P 10DLC program. The program is designed to regulate and authenticate A2P messaging activities in the United States.

Question: What is considered excessive marketing messages?

Answer: When referring to "excessive marketing messages" in the context of a sole proprietorship, you should avoid sending an excessive volume of promotional or marketing text messages to recipients. While the exact threshold for what constitutes "excessive" may vary depending on the specific regulations and guidelines of your jurisdiction, here are some general considerations:

Compliance with Anti-Spam Laws
Frequency and Timing
Relevance and Targeting
Opt-In and Opt-Out Processes
Content Quality

Question: What's the time frame for approval? Seems to be taking weeks, and what about the business registrations that are different from A2P registrations?

Answer: You will need to first register your business. Then, the approval of the campaign will be based on how the information matches the A2P campaign information you submitted.

You can still use the system following the best practices so that the delivery rate is high and the SMS is not flagged.

A2P campaign is just a more enhanced safety net for delivery, but that doesn't mean you cannot use the system without it.

You can follow these basic compliance rules, and you should be good to roll:

Add Opt-Out Language in all the first SMS sent to a contact
Add SenderID in all the first SMS sent to a contact
Do not send SMS to SMS-incapable devices like landlines; enable the number validation feature for this
Avoid sending URLs shortened using a public URL shortener

Question: Will this carrier solve the issue of sending SMS to spam when a trigger link is added to the texts?

Answer: Avoid sending URLs shortened using a public urls shortener like bit.ly or RB.gy; instead, send the original file link. Also, a best practice tip is consistency in the brand, website, and sample messages. If your brand name is Acme, your website is www.acme.com, but your sample messages say, “Here’s your one-time passcode for logging into www.contoso.com,” your campaign will be rejected.

Question: Who is approving all of this?

Answer: TCR

Question: Can people start texting the same day they register?

Answer: Yes, but they will get filtered after a couple of messages are sent and will receive a 30007 error. A workaround until the brand is approved would be to get a toll-free number.

Question: I have a DBA error message during registration asking for proof. How do I submit the proof, though?

Answer: Reach out to support.

Question: How do we add that checkbox in the form that asks them to confirm that they consent to get a text?

Answer: Radio button feature. Yes No. Description stating the opt-in.

Question: I'm confused about what phone number I should use for the end-user opt-in. Is this required to be the Mastermind phone number that the text messages come from?

Answer: YES

Question: What do we put in Enable SHAKEN/STIR Trusted Calling?

Answer: After submitting your business profile, you can register for Shaken/Stir.

Click on the Start Registration button, enter a friendly name for the profile, confirm the authenticity, and click Submit

You will get the success message for the submission. This might take up to 4 days.

Question: The client lists 60,000 customers who have not opted into SMS. What would be an example of an initial campaign they can send that includes the opt-in for future promotions? Or are they not allowed to send an initial text with a promotion?

Answer: You are not legally allowed to text customers who didn't opt-in to receive SMS without consent. You can send them an email either getting them to confirm opted in for SMS.

How you do that is up to your creative methods. Luckily, if you switch to LC, we have a feature that adds opt-in language for you in the "Business Profile" settings. Note: This is only available for LC users

Question: Can we get a toll-free instead of a local # so they do not have to register in the trust center?

Answer: I suggest still registering for the trust center, as other carriers may filter your sms.

Question: And how do I register a business in the US if I'm in Europe?

Answer: You will need to have a US address and EIN

Question: For toll-free numbers, does the user have to pay for the A2P and the separate toll-free registration fee (which changes depending on the "Use Case Category."

Answer: A2P is not required for Toll-Free numbers.

Question: Where can we look up and verify our address for our EIN before submitting it?

Answer: You should be able to check this information with your CP 575 from the government issues.

Question: Do I have to have a checkbox on the landing page? I have a statement that says they opt to sms when they submit the form. Then they get the opt-in message with the instructions on how to opt-out.

Answer: Yes, It is required to have a checkbox on your landing page.

Question: Is this registration necessary if we receive or send less than 10 texts daily?

Answer: Yes, A2P Registration is required for all US accounts, no matter the amount of sms being sent.

Question: Why, if you first clicked on "Sole Prop" registration and tried again, did it not let you switch to the Standard Registration? What should we do if that happens to us? Is there any way to restart and pick the "Standard Registration"?

Answer: We will have to delete the sole prop on our end, and you will be able to submit the standard registration from there.

Question: How do Facebook forms get "pasted in" here?

Answer: You can get a share link to the Facebook form or a public hyperlinked to the screenshot.

Question: If you start with Sole Prop, can you upgrade later?

Answer: You can reach out to support, and we will be able to remove the current registration and add a new one.

Question: So what do we do if we need to re-register to select the "messages will include an embedded link", since we will send texts with links?

Answer: You can reach out to support, and we will be able to remove the current registration and add a new one.

Question: Should we stop sending SMS broadcasts until we get approved?

Answer: No need to do this. You can still use the system following the best practices so that the delivery rate is high and the SMS is not flagged. A2P campaign is just a more enhanced safety net for delivery, but that doesn't mean you cannot use the system without it.

Question: Can I send an initial promotional text to collect opt-ins?

Answer: No. You must first obtain consent such as via email or web form before sending promotional SMS messages.

Question: What about sending messages with links?

Answer: Avoid public URL shorteners. Ensure consistency between brand, website, and sample messages to prevent campaign rejection.

Question: I have an EIN, but I want to use a different Brand Name for my texts. Is this allowed?

Question: Why did my campaign get rejected even though my brand is approved?

Answer: The most common reason is "Message Drift." If your live messages (including those sent by AI agents) do not closely match the sample templates you submitted during registration, carriers may flag and reject the campaign.