SMS marketing violations can result in severe consequences ranging from service disruption to significant financial penalties. This page educates teams about the real-world impact of non-compliance.
| Violation Type | First Detection | Repeat Violations | Severe Violations | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibited Categories | Immediate account suspension | Permanent termination | No appeal process | Never (permanent ban) |
| S.H.A.F.T. Content | Instant number shutdown | Account termination | Industry blacklist | Never (permanent ban) |
| Spam Complaints | Rate limiting (50% reduction) | Account review | Service termination | 30-90 days |
| Content Violations | Warning + content review | Temporary suspension | Account closure | 7-30 days |
| Consent Issues | Compliance review | Messaging restrictions | Account termination | 14-60 days |
| Volume Violations | Throughput reduction | Account suspension | Service termination | 7-45 days |
| Carrier | Enforcement Method | Typical Triggers | Impact | Resolution Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Message filtering | High spam complaint rates | 70-90% delivery reduction | Carrier appeal process |
| AT&T | Number blocking | Content violations | Complete delivery failure | Technical review required |
| T-Mobile | Account flagging | Consent violations | Gradual delivery reduction | Compliance documentation |
| Sprint | Content filtering | Prohibited words | Selective message blocking | Content modification |
| Reputation Factor | Impact Timeline | Recovery Difficulty | Business Consequences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sender Score | Immediate (hours) | Moderate (weeks) | Reduced deliverability |
| Domain Reputation | 24-48 hours | Difficult (months) | Cross-platform impact |
| IP Reputation | Immediate | Moderate (weeks) | Technical infrastructure impact |
| Brand Reputation | Days to weeks | Very difficult (years) | Customer trust erosion |
| Law | Violation Type | Penalty Range | Additional Consequences | Enforcement Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCPA | Unauthorized text messages | $500-$1,500 per message | Class action lawsuits | FCC, Private litigation |
| CAN-SPAM | Deceptive messaging | Up to $43,792 per violation | Criminal prosecution possible | FTC |
| COPPA | Children's privacy | Up to $43,792 per violation | Ongoing monitoring requirements | FTC |
| HIPAA | Health information misuse | $100-$50,000 per record | Criminal charges possible | HHS |
| GLBA | Financial privacy | Up to $100,000 per violation | Regulatory oversight | Multiple agencies |
| State | Specific Law | Penalty Structure | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | CCPA/CPRA | $2,500-$7,500 per violation | Private right of action |
| Illinois | BIPA | $1,000-$5,000 per violation | Biometric data protection |
| Texas | TDMA | Up to $500 per violation | Enhanced telemarketing rules |
| Florida | FTRA | $500-$1,500 per violation | Strict consent requirements |
| New York | GBL § 396-r | Up to $1,000 per violation | Broad consumer protection |
| Jurisdiction | Primary Law | Maximum Penalty | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | GDPR | 4% of global revenue or €20M | Explicit consent, data protection |
| Canada | CASL | $10M CAD | Express consent required |
| United Kingdom | PECR | Unlimited fines | Opt-in consent required |
| Australia | Spam Act | $2.2M AUD | Consent and identification |
| Company | Settlement Amount | Violation Details | Key Lessons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papa John's | $16.5 million | Texts without consent | Consent documentation critical |
| Jiffy Lube | $47 million | Autodialer violations | Technology compliance matters |
| Capital One | $75 million | Debt collection texts | Industry-specific rules apply |
| Yahoo | $50 million | Marketing texts without consent | Platform responsibility |