How to Avoid Wrong-Party Calls with TCPA Reassigned Number Verification and Scrubbing.
In keeping with the practice of “Compliance by Design” and taking proactive measures with your operations, determining whether the phone numbers that you are dialing still belong to the consumers that you intend to reach is a necessary safeguard.
While consumers keep the same phone numbers for many years, conversely, phone numbers are often reassigned.
You take careful measures to obtain proper consent to contact consumers with the phone numbers that they have provided, and since there is a means to identify phone numbers that still belong to the intended subscriber, it is worth utilizing this resource. I am referring to the Reassigned Numbers Database (RND).
What Is the Reassigned Numbers Database (RND)?
In 2018 the FCC adopted the Reassigned Numbers Database. In 2021, the list became available by a paid subscription. It is a comprehensive database with information provided by phone companies and carriers, and it was designed to prevent a consumer from getting calls intended for someone who held the phone number previously.
How to Use Reassigned Number Verification and Scrubbing to Stay Protected
As explained, the database can be used to determine whether a telephone number has been reassigned, so that you can avoid calling consumers who do not want to receive unwanted calls or who have not provided consent to receive calls. Use of the database also supports your efforts to comply with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Is the RND Required?
While the RND subscription is not a federal requirement, it serves as a safe harbor against TCPA liability. Additionally, at the state level, Maine requires callers to use the reassigned numbers database to verify that a consumer's phone number has not been reassigned prior to placing calls.
Is the Use of Reassigned Number Verification and Scrubbing Worth the Cost?
Yes. The cost of doing business typically includes expenses associated with compliance and seeking verification is worthy of the cost.
Additionally, the RND currently contains over 361 million phone numbers, with new entries being added each month.
Tools to Simplify Reassigned Number Verification and Scrubbing Compliance
We support compliance and have tools available to help you comply. Among them is TCPA Authority™, which detects phone number changes and helps you scrub reassigned numbers with confidence.
If you have questions about integrating the Reassigned Numbers Database into your compliance process, our team is here to help.
