10DLC and toll-free registration: SmartyTap docs

US carriers won't deliver business texts from a number they don't know. Before SmartyTap sends texts, your number needs one of two approvals:

Toll-free verification for a toll-free number (800, 833, 844 and so on). This is SmartyTap's default and the quickest way to start.
10DLC registration for a local 10-digit number. You register a brand (who you are) and a campaign (what you send and how people opt in).

Toll-free or local?

Toll-free works nationwide and is set up in SmartyTap's own SMS Setup.
Local makes sense if customers already know a local number. It costs carrier fees ($49.50 up front, then $10 a month from the fourth month, passed on at cost).

Verify a toll-free number

Open SMS Setup

Go to SmartyTap > Settings > SMS Setup. The page says "Complete your toll-free SMS onboarding before moving into launch actions" and shows a four-step checklist.

Countries

Choose the countries you plan to text and click Next.

Number and sending information

Pick a number from Available toll-free numbers. Fill in Company name, Support email, Website URL, Privacy policy URL, Help message, Opt-out message, Estimated monthly volume and Use case. Describe how customers sign up in Opt-in workflow description, and add links to screenshots of your sign-up under Opt-in workflow image URLs (one per line). Click Confirm sender details.

Wait for approval

The Toll-free approval step shows the carrier's status. Click Refresh approval status to check again. SMS setup is complete once the verification is approved.

Get approved the first time

Reviewers compare your details with your website. Use the business name customers see, a privacy policy that mentions texting, and an opt-in description that says exactly where people agree to texts (for example "the checkbox under the phone field at checkout"). A screenshot of that sign-up helps most.

The Concierge guide to toll-free verification covers the statuses and how to fix a rejection in more detail.

Register a local number for 10DLC

10DLC registration runs from the Chargezen SMS setup at Concierge > Deploy > Channels, under Local texting (10DLC). You fill in your legal business name and EIN, your address and support contacts, your use case, two sample messages and how customers opt in, then pay the carrier fees and submit. Chargezen files the brand and the campaign with the carriers and adds your local numbers to the campaign once it's approved.

Follow the full steps, fees, refunds and statuses in 10DLC registration.

See each number's status

Go to SmartyTap > Calls > Phone Numbers. The Verification column shows:

Toll-free numbers: Not Verified, Pending, Verified or Rejected.
Local (10DLC) numbers: No Campaign, Pending or Approved.

Texts go out only from numbers that are Verified or Approved.

What texting costs

Texts cost 2¢ per part from your SMS credits. A part is 160 plain characters, or 153 each once a text runs longer. An emoji or other special character switches the text to a format with 70 characters per part (67 each once split). The SMS editor shows the character count and cost as you type, and the campaign review shows the estimated total and your balance after sending. Top up credits in SmartyTap > Settings > Settings > Balance & Billing.

Troubleshooting and FAQ

Do I need both?

No. Toll-free numbers need toll-free verification only; local numbers need 10DLC only.

How long does approval take?

The carriers set the timing, and it varies. Check the status on SMS Setup or the Phone Numbers page.

Can I use a short code?

Not in SmartyTap today. Toll-free and local numbers are supported.

My verification was rejected

Read the reason, correct the business details or opt-in description so they match your website, and resubmit. See Fix a rejection.

Guides

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10DLC and toll-free registration