# POL-178 — The terms should say how to re-subscribe

> The SMS terms should describe how someone can rejoin the programme after opting out.

- **Rule ID:** POL-178
- **Layer:** Policy pages (`POLICY_PAGE`)
- **Checks:** `SMS terms opt-out section`
- **Severity:** MEDIUM — Usually survives review, but lowers your trust score or invites manual review.
- **When it bites:** Gates approval — get this wrong and registration is refused
- **How it is detected:** AI judgement over the crawled website or policy page
- **Fix type:** Fix the privacy policy or SMS terms
- **Required by:** TCR
- **Applies:** Applies to every 10DLC registration.
- **Canonical URL:** https://ekas.io/rules/10dlc/policy-page/pol-178/

## Why this rule exists

People opt out during a busy period and want back in later, and without a documented route the only options are to guess a keyword or to contact support — so the business loses a subscriber who wanted to return. It also prevents a worse outcome: a business re-adding a number without fresh consent because the customer asked verbally and nobody recorded it.

## How to fix it

Name the re-subscription route beside the opt-out instruction — a keyword, the original sign-up page, or a support contact. Done when the terms answer "how do I come back?".

## Example of a compliant value

```text
Changed your mind? Reply START to rejoin, or sign up again at acmecoffee.com/rewards.
```

## Common mistakes

- A re-subscription route is a fresh opt-in and has to collect fresh consent with the full disclosure. Do not describe it as "we will just turn you back on".