Toll Free Verification Requirements

What is Toll-Free Verification?

The toll-free verification process qualifies messaging traffic to be tagged as verified with our downstream peers (not directly with mobile operators). The approved tag reduces the number of false-positive blocks and helps increase the message deliverability on a single toll-free number (TFN). 

Verification is not whitelisting, so approval doesn’t guarantee that the customer won’t experience any blocking. However, as long as the sent traffic aligns with the verification application, this allows us to work with our peers more swiftly in order to share the campaign details with the mobile operator and ask for the blocking to be removed.

How do I submit a toll-free verification form? 

Click here to submit your toll-free verification form. 

What are the minimum requirements to get verified?

• Toll-free number(s) list
• Verification form completed
• The use case is not listed on our Ineligible Use Case list
• Opt-in process is documented/detailed (Screenshot and/or URL is required for marketing use cases) 
• Sakari Terms of Service and Carrier Best Practices (CTIA guidelines) are being followed

How long does it take to be approved?

Once the Sakari team receives your form, it will be submitted within 2-3 business days. Upon submission, it can take up to 3 business days for a single toll-free number request and up to 5 business days for multiple toll-free number requests to receive a response from our peer confirming approval, denial, or asking clarifying questions.

Toll-Free Messaging Best Practices

Toll-Free messaging users must adhere to the following standards:

• Obtain clear opt-in from your recipients before sending them messages (the opt-in does not need to be via text messaging)
• Provide easy ways for your users to opt-out of messages
• Maintain a very low opt-out (STOP reply) rate from your recipients
• Use shortened, branded URLs for the highest deliverability levels when sending links in the message body. Do not use shared URL shorteners (such as popular free URL shortening services) as these are forbidden by US carriers and will result in filtering
• Do not "load balance" by sending the same or similar messages using multiple Toll-Free numbers. Carriers call this "snowshoeing" and it is specifically targeted for filtering on toll-free SMS.
• If you have a valid use case for sending the same or similar messages over multiple Toll-Free numbers, please contact Sakari support.

Ineligible Use Cases

Verification Form Fields

Information needed to completed the toll-free verification process: 

Customer Name

The name of the Sakari customer completing the form.

Compliance Point of Contact

The compliance contact at your company. 

Compliance Point of Contact

The contact information for the compliance point of contact (POC).

Legal Company Name

The legal company name of the business sending the actual messages to consumers.

Organization Type

Use the drop-down menu to select the type of the message sender company.

State of Incorporation

The state where the message sender company was registered.

Business Address

The primary/corporate address of the message sender.

Campaign Description

Please describe your use case and the purpose of your messages (i.e. appointment reminders, receipts, etc.)

What types of messages are being sent?

Use the drop-down menu to select an option that best describes your message type:

• Conversational: Conversational messaging is a one-to-one message exchange between a business and an end user (recipient).
  • Please provide supporting information on how opt-in is collected: Please describe how potential subscribers are opted in to receive messages.
• Informational: These messages inform your customers of things like service updates, appointments, and scheduling. Informational messages do not sell or promote anything regarding the business.
  • Please provide supporting information on how opt-in is collected: Use the drop-down menu to select an option that best describes how subscribers opt in to the messaging program:
    • IVR: A potential subscriber provides their consent via an interactive voice response.
    • Keyword: A potential subscriber texts a keyword (i.e JOIN) to opt into a messaging program.
    • POS or other on-site location: A potential subscriber provides their consent at the point of sale or other on-site location.
    • Via paper form: A potential subscriber provides their consent at an in-person location via a paper form. 
    • Weblink/URL: A potential subscriber enters their telephone number through a website to opt into a messaging program.
    • Other: Use this field to detail any other type of opt-in not listed above.

• Marketing: A text message sent that contains a sales or marketing promotion. 

  • Please provide supporting information on how opt-in is collected: Use the drop-down menu to select an option that best describes how subscribers opt in to the messaging program (see the list above).
  • A screenshot and/or URL will be required to move forward.

Please provide supporting information on how opt-in is collected

Use the drop-down menu to select an option that best describes how subscribers opt in to the messaging program (see the list above). A screenshot and/or URL will be required to move forward.

Sample Messages

Please include 1-3 variations of the messages you intend to send.

Please choose the category that best represents your use case/content

Use the drop-down menu to select a category that closely resembles your use case.

Are you using more than one sending number?

• No: Select this option if you're not using more than one sending number.
• Yes: Select this option if you're using more than one sending number.

Estimated Monthly Message Volume

Use the drop-down menu to select a number that best represents the estimated monthly message volume.

Canadian Traffic

Please choose the appropriate drop-down selection if a majority of the traffic is expected to be delivered to Canadian handsets.

Supporting Documentation

Please attach any additional information that would be useful.

Please note, it is not necessary to include samples of every different variation on your messaging, but it is strongly recommended that your message samples are representative of the majority of the messaging you plan to send.

Questions? Please open a ticket with the Sakari support team.