What is the DNC (Do-Not-Call) list?
The DNC (Do-Not-Call) List contains phone numbers of individuals who have opted out of receiving calls or texts from businesses. It helps ensure compliance with regulations that protect consumers from unwanted communications and enables businesses to avoid legal issues and maintain a positive reputation.
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. The DNC status applies to all phone numbers linked to the 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.
Carrier Do-Not-Call (DNC) List
The Carrier Do-Not-Call List is a mechanism maintained entirely by telecom carriers, such as AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, to block unwanted or spam communications at the network level. This list operates independently from any business or platform-managed opt-out mechanisms (like our internal Aloware DNC list).
To prevent your business numbers from being flagged:
Obtain clear consent - ensure recipients have explicitly opted in to receive communication, and maintain records of their consent.
Follow TCPA/A2P guidelines - to comply with TCPA and A2P guidelines, include opt-out instructions (e.g., "Reply STOP to unsubscribe"), limit call and message frequency, and avoid spammy language like "FREE" or "LIMITED OFFER." These practices maintain compliance and protect your reputation.
Monitor your number reputation
Use third-party tools like Aloware's Number Guard or carrier spam flags to monitor the health of your phone numbers.
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
If a contact wishes to resume communication, admins must submit a reversal request to Aloware support team by emailing [email protected].
Be sure to include the contact's name, phone number, and evidence of their consent to resume communication. The Aloware support team will prioritize your request and provide immediate assistance, ensuring a quick resolution to avoid unnecessary delays.
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: Go to Contacts > Filters and select the DNC filter to display a list of DNC-tagged contacts.
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.