What Is DNC Compliance and Why Does It Matter?
Do Not Call (DNC) compliance ensures that businesses follow Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations to prevent unwanted and illegal telemarketing calls and avoid costly fines.
With regulations constantly changing, such as the new FCC regulation that was scheduled to take effect on January 27, 2025 (before it was vacated by the Eleventh Circuit Court), it’s more critical than ever to update your telemarketing compliance strategy. In this article, we’ll outline how businesses can protect themselves and ensure compliance in this ever-changing environment.
Essential Steps to Ensure DNC Compliance
1. Obtain Proper Consent Before Calling
✅ Businesses must either collect and document prior express written consent (PEWC) or have an existing business relationship (EBR) with the consumer before calling numbers listed on the Do Not Call registry.
✅ Ensure lead generation compliance by requiring explicit opt-ins using clear and conspicuous language that includes all the required components for consent.
2. Regularly Scrub Your Call Lists
⚠️ Calling numbers on the DNC list without permission can result in fines of up to $53,088 per violation.
🔍 Use real-time DNC scrubbing tools to remove restricted numbers from your lists.
At a minimum, scrub your dialing lists every 31 days.
📋 Maintain an internal Do Not Call list for customers who opt out of marketing calls.
3. Update Lead Generation and Vendor Agreements
🔹 Work with TCPA-compliant lead generators who follow PEWC requirements.
🔹 Update vendor contracts to include indemnification clauses, ensuring protection if a third party fails to comply.
🔹 Retain proof of consent for all leads to defend against potential lawsuits.
4. Train Your Telemarketing Team on FCC Regulations
💡 Ensure your call center staff understands telemarketing compliance laws.
🎓 Provide ongoing training to reinforce best practices and prevent DNC violations.
5. Conduct Regular Compliance Audits
🛡️ Schedule quarterly audits of your DNC compliance strategy to catch errors before they result in penalties.
📂 Keep detailed records of all consumer consents, training logs and audit results.
Why DNC Compliance Is Critical for Your Business
❌ Non-compliance risks: Million-dollar lawsuits, consumer complaints and loss of reputation.
✅ Staying compliant ensures:
• Protection from hefty FTC or FCC fines
• Trusted reputation with consumers
• Secure telemarketing strategy
Compliance with DNC isn’t just about avoiding fines; it’s about how you will protect your business, your reputation and your customers.
We take compliance seriously here at AnswerNet. Prior to initiating any outbound calls on behalf of our clients, our group scrubs our calling lists against all required lists, including the national DNC, state DNC, the Reassigned Number Database and the AnswerNet internal Do Not Call registries for compliance with each call made.
But that’s not all. We provide clients with complete record-keeping, TCPA consent management, real-time DNC list updates and ongoing compliance audits to keep businesses one step ahead of ever-evolving regulations. We offer you a trusted compliance partner to make sure every call aligns with FTC, FCC, TCPA and PEWC requirements, so you can grow your business without worry.
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