What is the DNC (Do-Not-Call) list?
The DNC (Do-Not-Call) list records phone numbers of contacts who do not wish to receive calls or texts from businesses. This list is essential for managing communication preferences and ensuring compliance with regulations designed to protect consumers from unwanted sales calls. By adhering to DNC rules, businesses can avoid legal issues and uphold their reputation as responsible marketers, minimizing the risk of negative perceptions associated with unsolicited outreach.
In Aloware, when you flag a contact as DNC, the system automatically blocks all outbound communication—calls and text messages. This functionality ensures compliance with regulations and honors customer preferences. It's important to note that the DNC status is a property of the contact and applies to all phone numbers associated with that contact.
US National DNC registry
One important resource for ensuring DNC compliance is the US National DNC Registry, a federal list where consumers register their phone numbers to avoid unsolicited sales calls.
Download the registry - regularly download the DNC list from the national database.
Cross-check contacts - compare the downloaded list against your existing contact database to identify any numbers that have opted out.
If you are a new Aloware user, it is recommended that you thoroughly cross-reference your contacts before importing them into Aloware for compliance.
Update your records - remove or tag contacts from your outreach efforts if they appear on the national list, ensuring compliance and avoiding penalties.
Aloware account-specific DNC list
Tagging contacts as DNC in Aloware
Manually from the contact profile - in Aloware Talk, navigate to the contact’s profile. Click the Do Not Call (DNC) button.
Through workflows - add a Set DNC step to sequences to automatically flag contacts.
IVR Responses - configure your IVR menus to allow contacts to mark themselves as DNC (e.g., pressing a specific number to opt out).
Access Aloware admin - navigate to the Aloware admin panel.
Select the line - go to Lines and select the line where you want to create the IVR.
Open routing & IVR - click on the Routing & IVR tab. Under the Who should answer incoming calls? section, choose an IVR.
Create a New IVR - Click the Create button to set up a new IVR. Fill in the required fields, such as IVR name and IVR prompt.
Add DNC option - In the IVR options, click the +Add step button.
Assign a key for when the caller presses it (e.g., press '3' to opt-out)
Select the task Set to DNC and choose Hang up call.
CRM Field Sync - sync the Do_Not_Call field from CRM integrations like HubSpot. Refer to the guide to learn how to sync DNC in Aloware via HubSpot.
Bulk import via CSV - upload a CSV file with contact details and flag them as DNC using bulk tagging.
What happens when you flag a contact as DNC?
Complete communication block
Once a contact is flagged as DNC in Aloware, the system prevents all outbound communication (both calls and messages), ensuring compliance without user intervention.
Real-time notifications
If an attempt is made to communicate with a DNC-tagged contact:
For calls - the call will not proceed, and a notification will appear stating: "Contact is in the DNC list."
For messages - the SMS will fail, and a system-generated note will display: "System: Error while sending an SMS. Contact is DNC."
Irreversibility of DNC status
Once a contact is marked as DNC, they cannot be contacted again unless their DNC status is reversed. Admins have the ability to un-DNC contacts in Aloware Talk by providing a valid reason for the change.
To un-DNC a contact:
Open Aloware Talk - log in to your Aloware Talk account.
Select the contact - navigate to the contact list and select the contact you wish to un-DNC.
Click the un-DNC button - click on the Un-DNC button available in the contact’s profile.
Provide a reason - enter a clear reason for un-DNCing the contact in the designated field. This documentation helps maintain transparency and compliance.
Confirm changes - review the information and confirm the change to update the contact's status.
How Aloware ensures compliance
Automatic filtering - contacts flagged as DNC are automatically excluded from workflows such as:
Automated sequences
Broadcast campaigns
Power dialer call lists
Real-time blocking - calls or texts attempted to DNC contacts are blocked immediately, with system alerts notifying the user of the restriction.
Detailed filtering options - Users can filter and organize contacts based on their DNC status: aGo to Contacts > Filters and select the DNC filter to display a list of DNC-tagged contacts.
Differences between DNC and opt-out
The DNC setting is more comprehensive than a simple opt-out because it completely restricts communication.
Aspect | DNC | Opt-out (Text only) |
Scope | Applies to both calls and texts | Applies only to SMS messages |
Reversal | Requires proof and manual blocking | Contact can opt back in via keywords |
How it's set | Manually tagged, CRM sync, or import | Triggered by carrier-manage keywords (STOP, etc) |
DNC and business best practices
Respecting and enforcing DNC preferences provides numerous benefits for businesses:
Compliance assurance - avoid legal penalties associated with telemarketing violations by automatically removing DNC-tagged contacts from outreach workflows.
Improved reputation - respecting contact preferences fosters trust and loyalty.
Efficient targeting - proactively maintaining a clean and accurate contact list minimizes wasted resources on contacts who do not want communication.
By honoring DNC tagging, businesses ensure compliance while building stronger, trust-based relationships with their customers.