US changes robocall opt-out rules: one ‘STOP’ will no longer stop every message from 25 November
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rewritten the rules on how Americans can stop robocalls and automated texts, and the new rules take effect on 25 November 2026. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on 26 October, replacing a start date of 31 January 2027 that had been set earlier.
The biggest change concerns messages that are not adverts. Until now, asking a business to stop one kind of informational message — such as payment reminders — could be treated as asking it to stop them all. Under the new rules, a business may treat the request as applying only to that category, so a customer who opts out of payment reminders could still receive fraud alerts or appointment reminders. Asking to stop marketing calls or texts still stops all future marketing messages from that business.
Businesses will also be allowed to name one official way to opt out — an automated option during the call, a reply text using a standard word such as ‘STOP’, or a named website or phone number. They must tell customers clearly which method to use. If a business does not name one, it must still accept opt-out requests made by any reasonable means. The 10-business-day deadline for acting on a request stays in place.
The rules also give banks more room to send fraud alerts. They may now use a wireless number from a reliable source, such as a number given by a family member authorised on the account, rather than only a number the customer gave them directly.
Why it matters
The change matters because ‘stop’ has not always meant what people expected. One reply could silence useful alerts along with the messages a person wanted to end. The new rules draw a clearer line: informational messages are handled category by category, while marketing messages still stop altogether.
What happens next
The rules take effect on 25 November, and businesses have until then to update their systems. The FCC is also seeking views on further changes, including cutting the opt-out deadline from 10 business days to seven.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://www.kaufmandolowich.com/news-resources/fcc-revises-tcpa-consent-revocation-rules-what-businesses-should-know-before-november-25-10-30-2026/ (Kaufman Dolowich, 30 October 2026)
- https://www.accountsrecovery.net/2026/10/26/fcc-rewrites-tcpa-revocation-rules-lets-callers-designate-exclusive-opt-out-methods/ (AccountsRecovery.net, 26 October 2026)
