Why This Rejection Happens
"Affiliate Marketing" in the context of 10DLC specifically refers to lead generation where consumer data is shared with or sold to third parties. Carriers prohibit campaigns where consent is collected by Entity A but messages are sent on behalf of Entity B, or where links redirect to third-party offers.
- Privacy Policy mentions "sharing data with marketing partners."
- Messages contain links to third-party domains (affiliate links).
- Opt-in language says "I agree to receive offers from [Brand] and its partners."
- Sending "loan matching" or "insurance quote" offers from multiple providers.
Root Cause Analysis
Primary Triggers
- Non-Transferable Consent: A user opting into "Joe's Deals" did not consent to receive texts from "Joe's Affiliates." 10DLC requires a direct relationship between the sender and the recipient.
- Blind Redirection: Using affiliate tracking links (e.g., bit.ly, hop.clickbank) obscures the destination, which carriers flag as high-risk phishing or spam behavior.
Affiliate vs. Referral
| Activity | Status | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Selling Leads | PROHIBITED | Collecting numbers to sell to other businesses. |
| Loan Matching | PROHIBITED | "We found a lender for you!" (User doesn't know the lender). |
| Brand Influencer | ALLOWED* | *If the brand sends the text directly to their own list. |
Step-by-Step Remediation
Cleanse Privacy Policy
You must explicitly state that mobile opt-in data is NOT shared with third parties. See Code 7103 for the exact clause required.
Remove Third-Party Links
Ensure all links in your sample messages point to a domain owned by the Brand registering the campaign. Do not use generic link shorteners or affiliate tracking domains.
Pre-Resubmission Checklist
- I am sending messages only to users who opted in directly to MY brand.
- My privacy policy includes the "No mobile info sharing" clause.
- I have removed broad "and partners" language from my opt-in text.
Fix It Faster
Update your policy to exclude sharing.
Affiliate Model Questions?
Lead generation is tricky on 10DLC. We can help structure your compliance to avoid bans.
What reviewers check for code 708
Code 708 is reported as "Lead Gen Affiliate Marketing Prohibited". Carriers prohibit affiliate marketing, lead generation and any program where phone numbers or consent are collected by one company and used by another. Reviewers check whether the sender is the business the consumer dealt with, whether the website collects leads for partners, and whether samples promote third-party offers.
Where code 708 comes from
Code 708 is a vetting rejection reason applied during brand or campaign review and passed back to you by your CSP. It identifies the specific deficiency the reviewer found, so fixing exactly that item is the fastest route to approval. It is marked Critical: it describes content or a business model carriers do not permit, so the campaign cannot be approved until that content is removed, not just reworded.
Fix and verify before resubmitting
- Make sure the brand sending messages is the same business the consumer opted in with.
- Remove language allowing consent to be shared with "partners" or "marketing affiliates".
- Remove third-party offers and affiliate links from samples.
- If you are an agency, register each client as its own brand with its own opt-in.
- Describe a first-party relationship clearly in the campaign description.
- Resubmit with a note that references code 708 (Lead Gen Affiliate Marketing Prohibited) and lists each change made.
Sample resubmission note
Many CSPs let you add a note for the reviewer when you resubmit. A short, specific note shows what changed and speeds up the second review. Example for Brightside Dental:
Brightside Dental corrected the deficiency reported as code 708 (Lead Gen Affiliate Marketing Prohibited). Changes made: make sure the brand sending messages is the same business the consumer opted in with; remove language allowing consent to be shared with "partners" or "marketing affiliates"; remove third-party offers and affiliate links from samples. All URLs, keywords and auto-replies were re-tested from an external network before this resubmission, and the campaign text now matches the live opt-in exactly.
Common mistakes that keep code 708 coming back
- Buying or renting lists and texting them.
- Running comparison or quote sites that sell leads to providers.
- Promoting partner products for commission.
Related rejection codes
- Code 7002: Prohibited Lead Generation Affiliate
- Code 3102: Affiliate Marketing Prohibited
- Code 2131: Verbal Script Missing STOP Instructions
- Code 2128: Opt-in Form Missing HELP Instructions
- Code 2127: Verbal Script Missing STOP Instructions
- Code 2126: Opt-in Form Missing STOP Instructions
Frequently asked questions about code 708
We generate leads for our own sales team. Is that lead generation?
First-party lead capture is fine when the same brand that collected consent sends the messages. The problem is passing leads or consent to other companies.
Can insurance or mortgage quote sites register?
Not when they share leads with multiple providers. Each provider must collect its own consent.
Legal Disclaimer: Code 708 relates to data sharing and consumer consent. Selling or sharing mobile opt-in data without explicit, specific consent is a violation of carrier policies and potentially TCPA regulations. Consult legal counsel.
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