SMS Consent Policy

Purpose and scope

We send text messages only to people who have agreed to receive the relevant messages from the identified business. This policy applies to SMS and MMS sent by Melissa Frierson MBA, staff, contractors, and messaging vendors for accounting, CFO advisory, coaching, and authorized tax service communications in the United States. It covers automated campaigns and individual business texts, regardless of the sending or receiving number type.

This document establishes business practices intended to support compliance with the TCPA, applicable FCC rules, state requirements, and messaging provider standards. It does not guarantee compliance without correct implementation. Where a law or provider rule is stricter, that requirement controls.

Business identity and contact

The business name used in this policy is LibertyTax Senior Accountant and Strategic CFO Advisor LLC DBA LifePath Navigator Coach Melissa Frierson MBA. Business phone and SMS support: (843) 612-9373. Support email: melissa@melissafrierson.com. Melissa Frierson MBA is the policy owner and contact responsible for approvals, complaints, and vendor oversight. Use this same business identity in consent forms, messaging registrations, and published SMS terms.

Consent must identify this business and the specific message purposes selected by the recipient. Consent for service updates does not authorize marketing, and consent for one service category must not be expanded to unrelated services without appropriate permission.

Consent by message purpose

Service messages: Obtain and record affirmative consent for appointment reminders, requested follow-ups, document availability notices, and account or engagement updates. A client may authorize these texts on a signed form, an unchecked website checkbox, a documented verbal request, or an inbound text requesting a relevant response. An inquiry permits a response within its scope, not enrollment in recurring or promotional messages.

Marketing messages: Require prior express written consent as our business standard for all promotional texting, including manual texts. This covers offers, discounts, new service promotions, coaching packages, and cross-selling. Use a separate unchecked checkbox or signed electronic agreement identifying the specific sender, number, message purpose, and automated technology if used. Consent is not a condition of purchase. A message mixing a service notice and promotion is treated as marketing.

Providing a phone number, signing an engagement agreement without SMS language, being an existing client, or receiving a referral does not by itself satisfy this policy. Do not use purchased, scraped, rented, or shared lead lists. Never send an unsolicited marketing text merely to request marketing consent.

Requirements across number types

Local business number through a CRM or texting application: Complete applicable A2P 10DLC brand and campaign registration and associate the number before launch. Match the approved brand, use case, consent flow, and message samples.

Toll free sending number: Complete provider toll free verification and wait for approval before sending. Test carrier and platform STOP handling together.

Five or six digit short code: Obtain the required lease, carrier approval, and program provisioning. Use the approved disclosures, keywords, and HELP and STOP responses.

Business mobile phone with manual texting: Use an approved business account and retain consent and message history. Apply the same marketing consent and suppression rules. Confirm provider terms; manual sending does not remove all legal obligations.

VoIP or text enabled landline: Confirm SMS capability and account ownership. Apply 10DLC or other registration required for the actual sending route; a virtual number is not an exemption.

Recipient mobile, business, VoIP, shared, or reassigned number: Verify the intended recipient and SMS capability. Do not presume a business or VoIP destination is exempt. For shared numbers, keep content generic. Stop upon wrong-number notice or evidence of reassignment.

International destination: Do not launch until destination-specific law, consent, registration, and provider requirements have been reviewed.

Registration is separate from consent

Carrier registration or verification does not grant permission to text. Keep a number inventory recording ownership, brand, provider, campaign, approval status, opt-out configuration, and responsible user. Do not rotate numbers or move a blocked recipient to a different number to bypass suppression or filtering.

Sending controls

Use 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the recipient's local time as the business sending window, subject to any stricter state rule. Queue messages if location or time zone is uncertain. Keep within the frequency disclosed at opt-in; use a truthful numerical estimate when predictable. Identify the approved business in messages and include STOP instructions in the initial message and recurring reminders. Check consent, suppression, applicable do-not-call requirements, and state restrictions before marketing sends; do not rely solely on an existing business relationship.

Opt outs and renewed consent

Process STOP, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, QUIT, REVOKE, OPTOUT, and ordinary language such as "please stop texting." Accept requests received by reply text, telephone, email, or staff. We do not designate an exclusive opt-out method. Automate immediate suppression for standard keywords and process other requests promptly, with a one-business-day internal target and no later than any applicable legal deadline.

Our default is to stop all business texts from the identified sender across its numbers, programs, and vendors. Apply broader requests to all brands or channels within the request's scope. Do not require a fee, account login, purchase, or additional personal information. Use another authorized channel for necessary client service after SMS withdrawal.

At most one nonpromotional confirmation may be sent, preferably within five minutes; avoid a duplicate if the carrier or provider already sends it. No additional texts follow unless the person initiates a relevant request or provides fresh consent appropriate to the new messages. START may unblock a number technically, but staff must also verify and record renewed consent, including written consent for marketing.

Privacy and confidential information

Do not sell, rent, or share mobile numbers, SMS opt-in records, or consent information with third parties or affiliates for their marketing. Limit disclosure to service providers performing authorized messaging or support under confidentiality and security controls, or when legally required. Do not use tax service consent or client information for unrelated coaching or advisory marketing without the separately required permissions.

Use a secure client portal for tax returns, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, bank or payment details, passwords, and other sensitive records. Text only a generic notice to access the portal. SMS consent does not authorize use or disclosure of tax return information for unrelated services; obtain any separately required tax information permissions. Restrict platform access, require multifactor authentication where available, and remove former users promptly.

Evidence and oversight

Record the recipient's number, sender and brand, service or marketing category, date and time, source, exact disclosure version, affirmative action or signature, and supporting form or screenshot. Record verbal service consent with the staff member and scope; record calls only when lawful. Keep message history, registration approvals, opt-outs, suppression actions, complaints, and renewed consent evidence.

As an internal retention standard, retain consent and messaging evidence for at least five years after the last message or withdrawal, subject to longer applicable requirements or legal holds. Maintain suppression records securely while needed to prevent renewed contact. Do not delete an opt-out merely because the marketing list is refreshed.

Before launch and at least quarterly, the policy owner reviews registrations, consent samples, message purposes, time-zone controls, STOP and HELP tests, vendor synchronization, and complaints. Pause campaigns with missing consent evidence, broken opt-outs, wrong-number patterns, or unauthorized brand use. Investigate, correct the issue, and document approval before resuming.

Consent language for forms and websites

Publish accessible SMS Terms and Privacy Policy links beside each consent choice. Leave checkboxes unchecked and optional. Use the full business name below in consent forms and registration records. Sample texts use LifePath Navigator Coach as the recognizable sender name; confirm that this matches the approved messaging registration.

Optional service message consent: I agree to receive SMS/MMS from LibertyTax Senior Accountant and Strategic CFO Advisor LLC DBA LifePath Navigator Coach Melissa Frierson MBA at the number I provide about my appointments, requested services, and engagement updates, including automated messages if used. Frequency varies based on my service activity. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out or HELP for help. I may receive service communications by another available method if I decline texts. SMS Terms: https://melissafrierson.com/legal/sms-terms/. Privacy Policy: https://melissafrierson.com/legal/privacy-policy/.

Optional marketing message consent: By checking this box and submitting this form, I electronically sign and agree to receive recurring marketing SMS/MMS from LibertyTax Senior Accountant and Strategic CFO Advisor LLC DBA LifePath Navigator Coach Melissa Frierson MBA at the number I provide about CFO advisory, accounting, and coaching services, including messages sent using an automatic telephone dialing system or other automated technology. Frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchasing any goods or services. Reply STOP to opt out or HELP for help. SMS Terms: https://melissafrierson.com/legal/sms-terms/. Privacy Policy: https://melissafrierson.com/legal/privacy-policy/.

Sample program messages

Welcome: LifePath Navigator Coach: You opted in to service updates or marketing texts. Frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out or HELP for help. Terms: https://melissafrierson.com/legal/sms-terms/. Privacy: https://melissafrierson.com/legal/privacy-policy/.

Help: LifePath Navigator Coach: For help, call (843) 612-9373 or email melissa@melissafrierson.com. Msg & data rates may apply. Frequency varies. Reply STOP to opt out.

Opt-out confirmation: LifePath Navigator Coach: You are unsubscribed and will receive no further texts from this sender.

Approval and contact details

Policy owner and approver: Melissa Frierson MBA. Support phone and SMS support: (843) 612-9373. Support email: melissa@melissafrierson.com. SMS Terms URL: https://melissafrierson.com/legal/sms-terms/. Privacy Policy URL: https://melissafrierson.com/legal/privacy-policy/.

Version 1.2, prepared October 28, 2026. Effective upon approval.

Publication and legal review

Before use, ensure that business registration and messaging provider records match the business identity above; insert the live SMS Terms link; align disclosures with actual message frequency and technology; and complete the provider's approval process. Have counsel review the applicable states and tax information privacy obligations. Adoption of this document alone does not establish legal or carrier compliance.

Reviewed October 28, 2026. Upcoming change: FCC 26-67, published October 26, 2026, is effective November 25, 2026. Review before that date. This policy voluntarily keeps broad opt-out acceptance and sender-wide suppression rather than relying on narrower options.