TCR SMS Message Validator

What It Does

The SMS Message Validator checks a message the way carrier filters and campaign reviewers read it. It confirms opt-out language is present, flags prohibited and high-risk content, and counts characters, encoding and segments so you know what the message will cost to send.

Carriers restrict SHAFT content (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco) plus categories such as cannabis and CBD, and treat patterns like excessive capitals, urgency language and public URL shorteners as spam signals. A GSM-7 message fits 160 characters per segment; a single Unicode character drops the limit to 70 and can multiply cost. The full version runs 50+ validation rules across these areas.

Who It Is For

• Teams writing sample messages for a TCR campaign
• Marketers checking promotional copy before a send
• Developers who need segment and encoding counts

Inputs

Outputs

• Overall status
• Message length, segment count and encoding (GSM-7 or Unicode)
• Error, warning and pass counts
• Individual checks, each with status, category and message

Worked Example

From the MyTCRPlus API documentation. The request is sent to POST /v1/tools/message-validator; the web tool in the Compliance Suite takes the same inputs.

Request

{
  "message": "Get 20% off today! Reply STOP to unsubscribe. Terms at example.com/terms",
  "messageType": "promotional"
}

Response (200 OK)

{
  "success": true,
  "tool": "message-validator",
  "tokenUsed": true,
  "balanceAfter": 193,
  "results": {
    "status": "pass",
    "messageLength": 75,
    "segments": 1,
    "encoding": "GSM-7",
    "errorCount": 0,
    "warningCount": 0,
    "passCount": 5,
    "checks": [
      {
        "status": "pass",
        "category": "Message Length",
        "message": "Single segment message (75 characters)"
      },
      {
        "status": "pass",
        "category": "Opt-Out Language",
        "message": "Contains valid opt-out instruction (STOP)"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Cost

1 token per validation. Tool tokens are bought once, work across all 16 web tools, and never expire, and a free token is added every day. Tool tokens cost $3.50 to $5.00 each, depending on pack size. Compliance API calls use separate API tokens ($0.50 to $0.90 each), and professional users and resellers can ask about an optional monthly token plan.

How to Run It

1. Open the TCR SMS Message Validator in the Compliance Suite and sign in, or create an account.
2. Enter the inputs listed above and run the tool. One token is deducted per run unless noted under Cost.
3. For automation, call POST /v1/tools/message-validator on https://api.mytcrplus.com/v1 with a JWT bearer token. See the API documentation.

FAQ

What content do carriers block on 10DLC?

SHAFT content (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco) is restricted, along with categories such as cannabis and CBD. High-risk programs such as crypto, payday loans, debt relief and multi-level marketing face extra scrutiny or rejection.

Why does one emoji change the segment count?

Emojis and many special characters force Unicode encoding, which cuts a segment from 160 to 70 characters. The validator reports the encoding and segment count so you can see the effect.

Does the validator check for opt-out language?

Yes. Opt-out language such as "Reply STOP to unsubscribe" is one of the documented checks.

How much does a validation cost?

One token per validation. Tokens are bought once, work across all MyTCRPlus tools, and do not expire.

Is there an API endpoint?

Yes. POST /v1/tools/message-validator on the MyTCRPlus REST API.

Related Guides

• Compliant Sample Messages
• Carrier Filtering Algorithms
• URL Shortener Restrictions
• Brand Name Requirements

Disclaimer

MyTCRPlus provides tools and templates to support compliance efforts but does not provide legal advice. MyTCRPlus is not a Campaign Service Provider and does not file registrations or send messages. Carrier approval, filtering and throughput remain at the discretion of TCR, the Direct Connect Aggregators and the carriers.

MYTCRPLUS.com is not affiliated with The Campaign Registry. TCR and The Campaign Registry are trademarks owned by The Campaign Registry. The use of TCR is nominative use only.