If you have built an A2P communications solution, you will know Know Your Customer (KYC) data. Originating from the banking industry, KYC is essentially customer information required to identify and verify an individual or business is who they say they are. It commonly consists of name, address, and date of birth for Individuals and company name, registered address, business verification documents, etc. For businesses. Over the past decade, carriers and regulators around the world have been working hard to create a more trusted and verified messaging and voice ecosystem for businesses to engage with consumers to protect consumers from spam, fraud, and bad actors.
To protect consumers, the global communications industry requires businesses and organizations to submit KYC information and be verified by local authorities. Before they can text or call their customers, they must go through this process. KYC information is not required in every country, but it is becoming more common as the communications industry develops.
Given the rise in scams and fraud over the last few years, the UK regulator issued updated Know Your Customer (KYC) guidelines.
These changes in requirements will protect consumers from fraud, spam, and bad actors by requiring businesses to submit and verify their businesses.
The following timelines are important to note:
Starting May 27, 2024 all existing Long Codes purchases will require an approved Regulatory Compliance (RC) bundle before buying.
Starting July 30, 2024, all SMS sent from international long codes to the UK will be blocked.
Starting September 30, 2024 all new and existing UK long codes must be connected to an approved UK RC bundle to send messages or make voice calls.
This regulation is only applicable to UK Long Codes which include local, national, mobile, and toll-free phone numbers.
*Authorized representative should be a senior person in the company who is responsible for Phone Numbers.
Follow these steps if you're a console user:
1. Prepare for the change in requirements and start collecting the required information and documents on your end.
2. Start submitting the KYC information through the console.
3. Once you submit the RC bundles, it will review the details and approve or reject the bundles.
4. If your bundle is rejected, it will share reject reason, please understand the reason and resubmit with the appropriate information and get your bundle approved.
5. If you have any new UK long code purchases coming up after May 27, 2024, please get your RC bundle approved proactively to avoid disruption to your services.
6. After May 27, 2024, if you buy a new UK long code, you will be required to connect an approved bundle before buying.
7. All UK long codes which were purchased before May 27, 2024 will need to be attached to an approved RC bundle by September 30, 2024 to avoid service interruptions, we would encourage you to proactively connect all your long codes to approved RC bundles after May 27, 2024.
A: No, there is no fees to register UK long codes
A: Unfortunately, you will not be able to use UK long codes without proper documentation
A: If your business is registered in the UK house register, then you don’t need to upload your documentation, just provide the information which we will verify. If you are not registered in the UK then please reach out to us.
A: No, there is no fees to register UK long codes
A: Physical address of the actual user of the Phone Number where emergency services can send help in case of an emergency
A: You should use UK Mobile or UK Toll Free numbers
A: We encourage you to register your business.
A: You should not have duplicate RC bundles, each RC bundle should have unique details. Assign the RC bundles to the Phone number that align with the bundle details. Ex: a phone number used from the London office, so the appropriate RC bundle should be assigned.
A: Unfortunately customers will not be able to buy new UK Longcodes without an approved UK RC bundle after May 27, 2024,. Existing numbers purchased before 27 May which do not have a KYC bundle by 30th September will have all traffic blocked.
A: Absolutely, Ofcom released the guidelines to the public on November 15, 2022.
