TFN Best practices - USA

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Best practices when using a TFN for A2P

Guidelines for using toll-free numbers for A2P

A toll-free number is a 10-digit number that begins with one of the following area codes: 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, or 833. You can use toll-free numbers to send transactional messages only.

To purchase toll-free numbers, contact your Account Manager at Kantask.

When using a toll-free number as an origination number, follow these guidelines:

  • Don’t use shortened URLs created from third-party URL shorteners, as these messages are more likely to be filtered as spam.

    • Be aware that keyword opt-out (STOP) and opt-in (UNSTOP) responses are set at the carrier level. You can’t modify these keywords or other any other keywords, or the messages that are sent when users reply with STOP and UNSTOP.

    • Don’t send the same or similar message contents using multiple toll-free numbers. Carriers call this practice snowshoeing or number pooling and target these messages for filtering.

    • Because toll-free numbers are subject to content filtering, be sure your messages don’t contain any of the following types of restricted content:

CategoryExamples
High-risk financial servicesPayday loans
Short-term high-interest loans
Auto loans
Mortgage loans
Student loans
Debt collection
Debt forgivenessDebt consolidation
Debt reduction
Credit repair programs
Get-rich-quick schemesWork-from-home programs
Risk-investment opportunities
Pyramid or multi-level marketing schemes
Prohibited/controlled substancesCannabis
PhishingAttempts to get users to reveal personal information or website login information.
S.H.A.F.T.Sex
Hate
Alcohol
Firearms
Tobacco