// SMS_PROGRAM

SMS Messaging Program

Last updated: June 22, 2026

01 Overview

RankStarz operates an SMS messaging program on behalf of small service businesses (HVAC, plumbing, landscaping, auto repair, retail, moving, and similar). This page documents how the program works, how consumers opt in, what messages they receive, and how they can opt out.

02 Who Sends Messages

Messages are sent by participating businesses through the RankStarz platform. Each business identifies itself by name in every message. RankStarz operates the technical sending infrastructure but does not initiate messages on its own behalf — each message is triggered by a participating business after that business has provided a service to its customer.

03 Who Receives Messages

Customers of participating businesses who have:

  • Recently received a service or completed a purchase from a participating business, and
  • Provided their mobile phone number to that business, and
  • Given affirmative, prior express written consent to receive SMS review requests from that business at that number.

04 How Customers Opt In

Consumers opt in to receive SMS messages at the participating business's point of sale or service. The participating business is responsible for collecting consent before adding any phone number to the RankStarz platform. Accepted consent methods include:

  • Checkbox on the business's online intake form, booking page, or appointment scheduler
  • Signed paper service agreement that includes SMS consent
  • Signed digital agreement (DocuSign, HelloSign, etc.)
  • Verbal consent at appointment confirmation, logged in the business's records

The opt-in language presented to consumers must include all of the following:

  • Identification of the sending business
  • Description of the message purpose (review request)
  • Expected message frequency
  • "Message and data rates may apply" disclosure
  • Instructions to reply STOP to opt out
  • Link to the RankStarz Privacy Policy

Sample opt-in language, provided to all participating businesses for use on their intake forms:

☐ By providing my mobile phone number, I agree to receive a text message from [BUSINESS NAME] requesting a review of my service. Message frequency is typically 1-2 messages per service. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe. See Privacy Policy at https://rankstarz.com/privacy.html.

This sample is downloadable at /downloads/sms-opt-in-sample.txt and is also displayed in the client business onboarding flow.

05 Message Frequency

Each customer receives a maximum of two (2) SMS messages per completed service: one initial review request, and one optional follow-up sent approximately 5 days later if the customer has not responded. There is a hard platform-level limit of 2 messages per customer per service.

06 Sample Messages

Examples of messages customers may receive:

"Hi Sarah, thanks for choosing Mike's HVAC! We'd love a quick Google review: https://rankstarz.com/r/abc123 Reply STOP to opt out. Msg & data rates may apply."

"Hi John, this is Acme Plumbing following up on your recent service. If we earned it, would you take 30 seconds to leave a review? https://rankstarz.com/r/xyz789 Reply STOP to opt out. Msg & data rates may apply."

07 How to Opt Out

Customers can opt out of SMS messages at any time by replying any of the following keywords to a received message: STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, QUIT.

Upon receiving an opt-out reply, the system immediately:

  • Sends a confirmation: "You've been unsubscribed and will not receive further messages from [BUSINESS NAME]."
  • Adds the phone number to the sending business's permanent opt-out list
  • Blocks all future SMS to that number from that business

Customers can also reply HELP to receive: "RankStarz review requests on behalf of [BUSINESS NAME]. Reply STOP to unsubscribe. Support: support@rankstarz.com. Msg & data rates may apply."

08 Platform-Level Consent Enforcement

RankStarz enforces consent at the platform level, not just on the honor system:

  • Every participating business must affirmatively attest at signup that they collect consent and must describe their consent collection method.
  • Every individual customer record carries a per-customer consent flag. The SMS scheduler refuses to send if the flag is not explicitly set true.
  • A permanent per-business opt-out list is checked before every send. STOP replies are processed by an inbound webhook that updates this list in real time.
  • All consent events, send attempts, and opt-out events are written to an append-only audit log retained for compliance review.
  • The test-message function is restricted to the account holder's own verified phone number — it cannot be used to send unsolicited SMS to arbitrary numbers.

09 Data Handling

Phone numbers and SMS message content are processed solely to deliver the review request and are not shared, sold, rented, leased, or used for any other marketing purpose. See the full Privacy Policy for complete data handling details.

10 Contact

Questions about messages received through the RankStarz platform: support@rankstarz.com.

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