Do-Not-Call List Management for Multi-Country Outbound Operations

Do-not-call compliance is often treated as a single checkbox—scrub against the national DNC registry and you're done. In a multi-country operation, it is four separate compliance obligations, each with different registry sources, scrubbing frequency requirements, opt-out mechanisms, and enforcement regimes. A contact scrubbed from the US national DNC registry may still be on the UK TPS, Australia's DNCR, or Canada's National DNCL—and calling them violates the applicable jurisdiction's regulations regardless of whether you've satisfied the US requirement.

The Four National Registries

• US National DNC Registry (FTC): Scrubbing required within 31 days of any outbound marketing campaign. Access requires registering your organization with the FTC and paying an annual subscription fee. Numbers on the registry since June 27, 2003, are permanently registered unless the consumer requests removal.
• UK Telephone Preference Service (TPS/CTPS): The TPS covers residential numbers; the CTPS covers corporate numbers. Scrubbing is required before calling UK numbers for marketing purposes. Unlike the US registry, TPS registration does not expire and must be honored indefinitely. ICO guidance recommends scrubbing at least monthly.
• Australia Do Not Call Register (DNCR): Managed by the ACMA. Registrations on the DNCR are active for 8 years before expiring, after which the consumer may re-register. Scrubbing frequency is not explicitly mandated but must occur before each campaign. Charity, government, and political calls are exempt from DNCR requirements.
• Canada National DNCL (CRTC): Subscriptions required through the CRTC's Bell Canada-operated registry. Registrations are valid for 3 years. Scrubbing must occur within 3 days before any call in Canada. Political, charity, newspaper subscription, and survey calls are exempt under specific conditions.