Compliance
Is Missed Call Text Back Legal? A Plain-English Overview
An overview of the US rules that matter for missed call text back: consent, opt-outs, and carrier registration. Not legal advice.
By the TextBack team · · 2 min read
Missed call text back is a reply to someone who just contacted you, which is generally different from sending unsolicited marketing messages. Still, several rules and industry requirements apply to business texting.
Consent
US law, notably the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), regulates automated texts. A person who calls your business has initiated contact, and a reply that responds to their call is treated differently from a promotional blast. Keep your text focused on responding to their inquiry, not selling.
Opt-outs
Honor requests to stop. Keywords like STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, and QUIT should end messaging. TextBack marks contacts who send these as opted out, and START restores messaging.
Carrier registration
US carriers require businesses that text from standard phone numbers to register their brand and use case (often called A2P 10DLC). Registration requirements and timing depend on the number type and use case, and can affect how quickly messages deliver.
Sensitive industries
Healthcare and legal businesses should keep automated messages generic and never include protected or confidential details.
Practical checklist
- Identify your business in the first message.
- Keep messages relevant to the call.
- Honor opt-outs immediately.
- Register with carriers where required.
- Review your setup with an attorney.
See our SMS compliance page for how TextBack handles opt-outs.
Details such as prices and carrier codes can change. Verify current information before you rely on it.