How-to guide · Compliance
Opt-Outs & the DNC List
When a contact asks you to stop texting, Statxt adds their number to your DNC list: the numbers your workspace must never text. Every send is checked against it. You can also add numbers yourself, import a list, and block texts at night with quiet hours.
How it works
- 1
Contact replies
They text STOP, or something like “don’t text me”.
- 2
Statxt reads the reply
Keywords and clear phrases count right away. Unclear replies go to an AI judge.
- 3
Number joins DNC
The contact is marked unsubscribed and the conversation is stopped.
- 4
Future texts blocked
Campaigns skip the number and 1:1 sends to it are refused.
STEP 01
Know what counts as an opt-out
An opt-out is a contact taking back their permission to receive your texts. Statxt watches every inbound reply and handles opt-outs for you.
- Keywords: STOP, STOPALL, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, QUIT, REMOVE, OPTOUT and OPT OUT, in any capitalization.
- A reply that is the keyword, or starts with it, opts out right away. Spaced-out spellings like “S T O P” count too.
- Clear phrases such as “do not text me”, “remove me” or “take me off your list” also opt out.
- Opt-outs always land on your DNC list. No setting turns that off.
STEP 02
Let the AI judge handle unclear replies
People don’t always say STOP. When a reply might be an opt-out but isn’t clear-cut, Statxt asks an AI compliance judge to decide.
- Replies like “not interested, leave me alone”, “wrong number” or “lose my number” are sent to the judge.
- So are replies that only mention a keyword, like “I can stop by Saturday”.
- The judge must be at least 80% confident before it opts someone out.
- Every verdict is recorded with its confidence and reasoning.
STEP 03
Decide how to treat hostile replies
Open Compliance → Settings. Negative Reply Auto-DNC treats hostile or profane replies as opt-outs and adds the contact to your DNC list.
- It’s on by default. Owners and admins can turn it off.
- It covers replies like “stop harassing me”, “never text me again”, “go away” and profanity.
- Words match as whole words, so “scam” never matches “scampi”.
- Changes save automatically.
STEP 04
Add a number to DNC yourself
If someone asks to stop by phone, email or in person, add them manually. Go to Compliance → DNC List and click Add Number.
- Choose a reason: Customer requested removal, Carrier complaint, Number bounced or Opt-out received.
- Add notes if you want a record of what happened.
- You can also use Add to DNC in a conversation header, or as a bulk action in Contacts.
- The block takes effect immediately for every outbound text.
STEP 05
Import, search and export your list
Bringing over a suppression list from another tool? Import it before your first campaign so those numbers are never texted.
- Click Import and upload a CSV, TXT, XLS or XLSX file. Phone numbers go in a column named phone_number or phone.
- Large spreadsheets are split into smaller parts automatically.
- Search by phone number, or use Export All to download the full list.
- The Source column shows how each number got there: Manual Entry, Bulk Import, Auto-Blocked or System.
STEP 06
Set quiet hours
Quiet Hours Enforcement in Compliance → Settings stops texts from going out at night, based on the recipient’s time zone.
- It’s on by default from 9:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
- Start at 9, 10 or 11 PM. End at 8, 9 or 10 AM.
- Tick Allow 1:1 messages during quiet hours to let one-on-one replies through. Campaigns stay blocked.
- Campaign recipients inside quiet hours are skipped, not saved for later. Schedule blasts for daytime.
Pro tips
Get more out of Opt-outs & DNC
Keep opt-out language
Leave “Reply STOP to opt out.” in your campaigns. Blasts append it automatically when Append Opt-Out Footer is on.
Import old lists first
Bring in opt-outs from any previous tool before your first send, so nobody who already said no gets texted again.
Schedule for daytime
Quiet hours skip blast recipients instead of holding them, so a late-evening blast can miss part of your list.
Check the Excluded count
After you send from Text Blaster, the confirmation notes how many recipients were excluded for DNC.
Log offline requests
Someone asked to stop by phone or in person? Add them with Add Number and a note so the whole team knows.
Removal is restricted
Only owners and admins can remove a number from the DNC list. Do it only when the contact has clearly agreed to hear from you again.
Common questions
Which replies opt a contact out?
STOP, STOPALL, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, QUIT, REMOVE, OPTOUT and OPT OUT, plus clear phrases like “do not text me” or “take me off your list”. Unclear replies are checked by an AI judge.
Can a contact opt back in?
Yes. If they reply with just START, UNSTOP, SUBSCRIBE or OPT IN, Statxt removes them from your DNC list and marks the contact active again.
What happens if I try to text a number on the DNC list?
The send is blocked with “Blocked by compliance: this contact is on the DNC list.” Campaigns skip the number automatically.
Who can change compliance settings?
Owners and admins. Other roles see the settings but can’t edit them.
Last reviewed October 8, 2026. Names, phone numbers, contacts, and stats in the illustrations are fictional examples.
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