Why Call Forwarding Matters
Ensuring that your business phone number is callable is essential for compliance with various telemarketing regulations, including state-level Mini-TCPA laws (such as those in Florida and Oklahoma) and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
If you’re using a toll-free number (TFN) for SMS marketing, it must be callable for compliance purposes. However, shortcodes do not have calling capabilities, meaning businesses must provide an alternative callable number.
To comply, businesses can either use a dedicated business phone line or set up call forwarding on their existing number.
How to Set Up Call Forwarding for Your Business Number
1. Contact Your Phone Carrier
If your business number is provided by a telecom carrier (such as AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile), you can usually enable call forwarding through your account settings or by contacting customer support.
- Log in to your business account on your carrier’s website.
- Navigate to Call Forwarding settings.
- Enter the number where you want calls to be forwarded.
- Save and activate the settings.
📌 Tip: Some carriers offer advanced call forwarding features, such as forwarding only during business hours or sending calls to multiple numbers.
2. Use a VoIP or Virtual Business Phone System
Many businesses use VoIP-based phone services that offer built-in call forwarding. If you are using a virtual number from Google Voice or RingCentral, you can easily set up call forwarding:
- Google Voice: Sign in to Google Voice, go to Settings > Linked Numbers, and enable call forwarding.
- RingCentral: Log in to your RingCentral account and adjust Call Handling & Forwarding settings.
Why VoIP?
- Keeps business and personal calls separate.
- Ensures calls are answered even if you’re not at your main business number.
- Provides voicemail and routing options.
Important Compliance Notes
- Shortcodes do not support voice calls. If your SMS marketing is tied to a shortcode, you must provide an alternative callable number for customers.
- Toll-Free Numbers (TFNs) must be callable. If you use a TFN for SMS marketing, ensure that it is call-forwarded to an accessible number.
- Failure to comply with callable number regulations could result in fines of up to $50,000 per violation under Mini-TCPA laws.
For any questions, reach out to support@recart.com.