Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about DNC list scrubbing, TCPA compliance, and FreeDNCScrub tools.
What is the Do Not Call (DNC) Registry?
The National Do Not Call Registry is a database maintained by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that contains phone numbers of consumers who have opted out of receiving telemarketing calls. It was created under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and currently has over 258 million registered numbers. FreeDNCScrub maintains a comprehensive database of over 248 million logged DNC numbers sourced from multiple authoritative data providers.
Is FreeDNCScrub really free?
Yes, FreeDNCScrub is 100% free for both single number checks and batch CSV scrubbing. There are no hidden fees, no credit card required, and no signup needed. We support files up to 50,000 numbers per batch.
How often do I need to scrub my call lists?
Under federal regulations, you must scrub your calling lists against the National DNC Registry at least every 31 days. We recommend scrubbing before every new campaign to ensure maximum compliance.
What phone number formats do you accept?
We accept all common US phone number formats including: (555) 123-4567, 555-123-4567, 5551234567, +1-555-123-4567, 1-555-123-4567, and more. Numbers are automatically normalized to a standard 10-digit format.
Do you store my phone numbers or data?
No. All processing happens in-memory on Cloudflare's edge servers. Your phone numbers are never written to disk, logged, or stored in any database. Once processing is complete, all data is immediately discarded.
What CSV format do you accept?
We accept standard CSV files with any column layout. Our system auto-detects the phone number column by looking for common headers like 'phone', 'phone_number', 'mobile', 'cell', or 'telephone'. You can also manually select the correct column after upload.
What are the penalties for calling DNC numbers?
TCPA violations can result in fines ranging from $500 to $53,088 per violation depending on the type and severity. Willful TCPA violations carry $1,500 per call, while FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule violations can reach $53,088 each. Class action lawsuits have resulted in settlements exceeding $100 million.
How large of a file can I upload?
You can upload CSV files up to 50MB in size, containing up to 50,000 phone numbers per batch. Files are processed in chunks for optimal performance. For larger files, you can split them and run multiple batches.
What does the output file contain?
The output CSV contains all your original columns plus two new ones: 'dnc_status' (CLEAN, ON_DNC_LIST, or INVALID) and 'normalized_phone' (the standardized 10-digit number). You can download the full results, clean numbers only, or DNC-flagged numbers only.
Do I still need my own internal DNC list?
Yes. In addition to checking against the National DNC Registry, businesses are required to maintain their own internal do-not-call list of consumers who have specifically asked your company not to call them. FreeDNCScrub checks against the national registry — you need to manage your internal list separately.
Are there exemptions to the DNC rules?
Yes, certain calls are exempt including calls from nonprofit organizations, calls to consumers with an existing business relationship (within 18 months), purely informational calls, political calls, and survey/research calls. However, you must still honor individual company-specific do-not-call requests even if otherwise exempt. We are not attorneys and this does not constitute legal advice — we recommend consulting a qualified TCPA attorney for guidance specific to your business and calling practices.
How current is your DNC data?
We've identified and logged over 248 million DNC numbers from multiple authoritative data sources and update our database regularly with all new numbers discovered. However, our database may be incomplete — the National Do Not Call Registry changes daily and may contain numbers not yet reflected in our records. Please consider any number we flag as DNC to be accurate, but any number not flagged is worth verifying with a paid, certified DNC compliance service before calling to ensure your records are complete.
If a number comes back clean, does that mean it's safe to call?
If we identify a number as being on the DNC list, it is — our flagged results are reliable. However, a "clean" result means only that the number was not found in our records at the time of the check. FreeDNCScrub does not guarantee, certify, insure, or warrant that numbers not found in our database are verified to be absent from the National Do Not Call Registry, any state or local Do Not Call list, or any other applicable calling restriction. The DNC registry is updated daily, and state-level lists, company-specific opt-outs, and other regulations may apply independently. We recommend checking any clean or unflagged numbers with a paid, certified DNC compliance service before calling to ensure compliance and verification. This service is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or a compliance certification. Contact us for additional options.
Do you scrub for TCPA litigators?
No, FreeDNCScrub does not currently include TCPA litigator scrubbing as part of our free service. Litigator scrubbing identifies serial TCPA plaintiffs who may target businesses with lawsuits. If you need litigator scrubbing, contact us — we offer additional compliance options beyond the standard DNC check.
Do you scrub against state-specific DNC lists?
No, FreeDNCScrub checks against the National Do Not Call Registry only. We do not currently scrub against state-specific DNC lists. Twelve states maintain their own separate Do Not Call lists with additional restrictions. If you need state-level DNC scrubbing, contact us for additional options.
What are the limitations of this service?
FreeDNCScrub checks numbers against the National Do Not Call Registry only. It does not check state-level DNC lists, company-specific do-not-call requests, TCPA litigator databases, reassigned number databases, or wireless consent requirements. Multiple layers of compliance are recommended for any outbound calling program. We are not responsible for any fines, penalties, lawsuits, or damages arising from calls made based on results from this service. Contact us if you need additional scrubbing options beyond the federal DNC registry.
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