SMS MESSAGING PRIVACY

Sample Privacy Policy for 10DLC Compliance

Last Updated: [Date]

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How to Join Our SMS Program (Opt-In)

Option 1: Text Message Sign-Up

1. Text the word “JOIN” to our business number: [Your SMS Number]
2. Wait for our response with program details and confirmation
3. Reply “YES” to confirm your enrollment
4. You’ll receive a welcome message with program details

Option 2: Website Sign-Up

1. Visit our website at [Your Website URL]
2. Find the SMS sign-up form (usually in footer or contact section)
3. Enter your mobile phone number
4. Check the SMS consent box
5. Click “Subscribe” or “Join”
6. You’ll receive a confirmation text message

Option 3: In-Store Sign-Up

1. Visit our location at [Your Address]
2. Ask any staff member about SMS alerts
3. Provide your mobile phone number
4. Give verbal consent (we’ll document this)
5. You’ll receive a confirmation text within a few minutes

Option 4: Phone Sign-Up

1. Call us at [Your Phone Number]
2. Ask to join our SMS program
3. Provide your mobile phone number
4. Confirm your consent verbally
5. You’ll receive a confirmation text message

What to Expect After Joining

• Welcome message with program details
• Approximately [X] messages per month
• Special offers, updates, and important alerts
• Message and data rates may apply
• You can opt out anytime by texting STOP

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How to Leave Our SMS Program (Opt-Out)

Method 1: Text STOP (Fastest)

1. Reply “STOP” to any text message from us
2. You’ll receive immediate confirmation that you’ve been unsubscribed
3. No more marketing messages will be sent to your number
4. This takes effect immediately

Method 2: Other Text Keywords

You can also text any of these words:

• “END”
• “CANCEL”
• “UNSUBSCRIBE”
• “QUIT”

All work the same as “STOP” and provide immediate opt-out.

Method 3: Call Us

1. Call our customer service at [Your Phone Number]
2. Ask to be removed from SMS messaging
3. Provide your phone number for verification
4. We’ll remove you immediately
5. You’ll receive a confirmation text

Method 4: Email Us

1. Send an email to [Your Email Address]
2. Subject line: “SMS Opt-Out Request”
3. Include your mobile phone number in the message
4. We’ll process within 24 hours
5. You’ll receive email confirmation

Method 5: Visit Us

1. Come to our location at [Your Address]
2. Tell any staff member you want to opt out of texts
3. Provide your phone number
4. We’ll remove you immediately
5. You’ll receive a confirmation text

What Happens After You Opt Out

• You’ll get one final confirmation message saying you’ve been removed
• No more promotional/marketing texts will be sent
• We may still send important account messages (like order confirmations if you’re an existing customer)
• Your opt-out is permanent unless you choose to opt back in
• We keep a record of your opt-out to respect your choice

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Need Help?

Get Immediate Help

• Text “HELP” to any of our messages for instant assistance
• Call us at [Your Phone Number] during business hours
• Email us at [Your Email Address]

Common Questions

Q: How do I change my phone number? A: Opt out from your old number, then opt in with your new number.

Q: Can I pause messages temporarily? A: Currently, you can only opt out completely. Opt back in when ready.

Q: I’m getting messages after opting out. What do I do? A: Call us immediately at [Phone Number]. This shouldn’t happen, and we’ll fix it right away.

Q: Do I need to opt out from each campaign separately? A: No. One “STOP” removes you from ALL our messaging programs.

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Overview

This SMS Messaging Privacy Policy explains how [Your Business Name] (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, shares, and protects your personal information in connection with our text messaging services. This policy supplements our main Privacy Policy and specifically addresses our SMS messaging programs.

By opting into our SMS messaging program, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

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Information We Collect

Information You Provide

When you sign up for SMS messaging, we collect:

• Mobile phone number
• Name (if provided)
• Email address (if provided)
• Preferences for message types and frequency
• Opt-in confirmations and consent records
• Zip code or location (if relevant for local offers)

Information We Collect Automatically

When you interact with our SMS messages, we may collect:

• Delivery confirmations (whether messages were delivered)
• Response data (your replies to our messages)
• Engagement metrics (whether you clicked links in messages)
• Opt-out requests and timing
• Device information (when technically necessary)

Information From Third Parties

We may receive your information from:

• Business partners who refer you to our services
• Service providers who help us deliver messages
• Public databases for business verification purposes

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How We Use Your Information

Primary Uses

We use your SMS information to:

• Send requested messages about our products, services, and offers
• Provide transactional updates (order confirmations, appointments, etc.)
• Deliver customer support via text messaging
• Process opt-in and opt-out requests
• Maintain compliance with applicable laws and regulations

Marketing Communications

With your consent, we use your information to send:

• Promotional offers and special deals
• New product announcements
• Event invitations
• Company news and updates
• Loyalty program communications

Transactional Communications

We may send transactional messages without additional consent for:

• Order confirmations and shipping updates
• Appointment reminders and confirmations
• Account alerts and security notifications
• Payment confirmations and billing notices
• Customer service responses

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Consent and Opt-In

How You Give Consent

You may consent to SMS messaging by:

• Checking an opt-in box on our website or forms
• Texting a keyword to our business number
• Providing verbal consent to our staff (documented in writing)
• Completing a sign-up form at our business location

What Your Consent Covers

When you opt in, you agree to receive:

• The types of messages described at sign-up
• Messages at the frequency indicated (approximately [X] messages per month)
• Messages from [Your Business Name] and authorized partners (if applicable)

Required Disclosures

At the time of opt-in, we provide:

• Clear identification of our business
• Description of message types you’ll receive
• Frequency expectations (approximate number of messages)
• Cost information (“Message and data rates may apply”)
• Opt-out instructions (“Reply STOP to opt out”)
• Help instructions (“Reply HELP for help”)

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Your Rights and Choices

Opt-Out Rights

You can stop receiving messages at any time by:

• Texting “STOP” to any of our messages
• Texting other keywords: END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, or QUIT
• Calling us at [Your Phone Number]
• Emailing us at [Your Email Address]
• Visiting our website preference center (if available)

What Happens When You Opt Out

When you opt out:

• You’ll receive a confirmation message
• We’ll stop sending marketing messages immediately
• We may still send transactional messages related to existing services
• Your opt-out choice will be permanent unless you opt back in
• We’ll retain your opt-out record to honor your choice

Preference Management

You may be able to:

• Choose message types (promotional vs. transactional)
• Adjust frequency (if options are available)
• Update your information (phone number, preferences)
• Manage multiple lists (if you’ve opted into different programs)

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How We Share Your Information

Service Providers

We share your information with trusted service providers who help us:

• Deliver SMS messages (our messaging platform provider)
• Manage customer data (CRM and database providers)
• Analyze performance (analytics and reporting services)
• Provide customer support (help desk and support tools)

Business Partners

We may share information with:

• Authorized dealers or franchisees (if applicable)
• Marketing partners (only with your specific consent)
• Technology integrators who help us improve our services

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by:

• Court orders or subpoenas
• Government investigations
• Legal compliance obligations
• Protection of our rights or safety

What We Don’t Do

We do NOT:

• Sell your phone number to third parties
• Share your information for others’ marketing without consent
• Use your information for purposes unrelated to our SMS program
• Retain your information longer than necessary

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Data Security and Protection

Security Measures

We protect your SMS data through:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Access controls limiting who can view your information
• Regular security audits and monitoring
• Staff training on privacy and security
• Secure data centers and infrastructure

Data Retention

We retain your SMS data for:

• Active subscribers: As long as you remain opted in
• Opt-out records: Permanently (to honor your choice)
• Transactional data: As required for business and legal purposes
• Analytics data: In aggregated, non-identifiable form

Data Breaches

In the unlikely event of a data breach:

• We’ll investigate immediately and take corrective action
• We’ll notify affected customers as required by law
• We’ll report to authorities as legally required
• We’ll enhance security measures to prevent future incidents

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Children’s Privacy

Age Requirements

Our SMS messaging program is intended for:

• Adults 18 years and older
• Minors 13-17 with parental consent (where legally permitted)
• Not for children under 13 without specific parental consent

Parental Controls

If you believe a child under 18 has opted into our messages:

• Contact us immediately at [Your Email/Phone]
• We’ll verify the situation and remove the child if necessary
• Parents can opt out on behalf of their minor children

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International Considerations

Geographic Scope

Our SMS program operates primarily in:

• United States and U.S. territories
• Canada (if applicable)
• Other regions as specifically disclosed

International Rights

If you’re located outside the U.S., you may have additional rights:

• European residents: GDPR rights to access, correct, delete, and port data
• California residents: CCPA rights to know, delete, and opt-out of sale
• Canadian residents: PIPEDA and provincial privacy law rights

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Updates to This Policy

Policy Changes

We may update this policy to:

• Reflect new features or services
• Address legal changes or regulatory requirements
• Improve clarity or user understanding
• Respond to customer feedback

Notification of Changes

We’ll notify you of material changes by:

• SMS message to current subscribers
• Email notification (if we have your email)
• Website posting with effective date
• In-app notification (if applicable)

Continued Use

Your continued participation in our SMS program after policy updates constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

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Contact Information

Questions or Concerns

For SMS privacy questions, contact us:

Phone: [Your Phone Number]
Email: [Your Email Address]
Mail: [Your Business Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP Code]

Business Hours: [Your Hours]

Help Commands

For immediate help with SMS:

• Text “HELP” to any of our messages
• Reply “HELP” for automated assistance
• Call our support line at [Phone Number]

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Compliance Information

Regulatory Compliance

Our SMS program complies with:

• Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
• CAN-SPAM Act
• Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) Guidelines
• FCC Rules and Regulations
• State privacy laws where applicable

Industry Standards

We follow industry best practices including:

• 10DLC registration with The Campaign Registry
• Carrier compliance with major wireless providers
• Privacy by design principles
• Regular compliance auditing

Third-Party Certifications

Our messaging platform providers maintain:

• SOC 2 Type II certification (if applicable)
• HIPAA compliance (if applicable)
• Industry security certifications

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Definitions

10DLC: 10-Digit Long Code phone numbers registered for business messaging

Opt-in: Your explicit consent to receive SMS messages from us

Opt-out: Your request to stop receiving messages (honored immediately)

SMS/Text: Short Message Service communications sent to your mobile phone

TCPA: Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the federal law governing business messaging

Transactional Messages: Non-promotional messages related to existing business relationships

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This SMS Privacy Policy is effective as of [Date] and applies to all SMS messaging communications from [Your Business Name]. This policy should be read together with our main Privacy Policy available at [Website URL].

For SPARK VoIP customers: This is a template policy. Please customize with your specific business information and consult with legal counsel to ensure it meets your specific needs and complies with applicable laws in your jurisdiction.