Texting Is Big Business
Why Businesses Text You
Texting is big business. Studies show that text messages are the most effective way for businesses to connect with customers and raise brand awareness. 98% of text messages are opened and seen by the recipient, far surpassing the open rates of marketing emails. Market research also indicates that text message advertising significantly increases customer engagement and leads to more purchases. Because of this more businesses are utilizing text message marketing platforms to text their customers with the latest promotions, offers, and deals.
The Problem
We all dislike spam text messages that we did not sign up for or agree to receive. They are annoying, a waste of time, and can be costly, depending upon your mobile phone data plan. Businesses, however, have realized that text message advertising campaigns can significantly increase their profit margins, and consumers are now being sent more text messages than ever before. Many businesses will now collect your phone number during the course of a consumer transaction for things like reward or loyalty programs and club memberships.
Some businesses will then improperly use customer phone numbers to send text messages that the customer never agreed to receive. By sending these unsolicited commercial text messages, these businesses invade their customers’ privacy and gain an unlawful advantage over businesses that do not engage in these unfair methods of competition.
Scam Text Messages
Many people are sent text messages from scammers who have obtained your phone number and personal information. While we all dislike these scam text messages, our legal practice must focus its efforts on the unlawful practices of legitimate businesses in Washington. For scam text messages, we recommend following the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines and also filing a consumer complaint with them. Filing a consumer complaint may assist the authorities in their pursuit of these criminals, and it helps put pressure on regulators to force service providers to do more to stop these robocall and text message scams.