RouteHouse Messaging (SMS) Terms

Provider: NextForge LLC ("NextForge"), operator of the RouteHouse service (the "Service").

Effective date: July 21, 2026 Last updated: July 21, 2026 Version: 1.0 (interim — published pending attorney review)

These Messaging Terms govern the optional business text-messaging feature of RouteHouse and are part of the RouteHouse Terms of Service. There are two audiences here: Part A applies to our business subscribers who send texts through RouteHouse; Part B is model consent and disclosure language for the people who receive those texts.

Part A — Terms for RouteHouse subscribers who send messages

1. The messaging feature

RouteHouse offers an optional feature that lets you send and receive text messages with your own customers from a business phone number, using a third-party messaging provider (currently Sent, Inc., which we may change or replace) and the underlying mobile carriers. The feature is an add-on and is billed as described when you enable it, including any monthly fee, message allotment, and overage rate.

2. You are the sender

When you use the messaging feature, you are the sender and are solely responsible for the messages you send, the recipients you message, and the consent behind them. NextForge and its messaging provider transmit messages on your behalf; they are not responsible for your message content or your compliance.

You represent and warrant that, before sending any message through the Service, you have obtained the level of consent required by applicable law and carrier rules from each recipient. In general:

Informational/transactional messages (for example, appointment confirmations, on-the-way notices, service reports, and payment reminders to your existing customers) require at least the recipient's prior express consent.
Marketing/promotional messages require the recipient's prior express written consent, which must not be a condition of purchase.

You must keep records of consent and provide them to NextForge or the carrier on request. You must not message recipients who have not consented or who have opted out.

4. Required message practices

When using the messaging feature, you will:

clearly identify your business in your messages;
send only during appropriate hours and at reasonable frequency, consistent with law and carrier rules;
honor opt-out requests immediately — the system supports STOP to unsubscribe and HELP for help, and you must not attempt to defeat or bypass opt-outs;
not send content prohibited by carriers or law, including unlawful content and restricted categories (often summarized by carriers as "SHAFT": sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco) and other high-risk categories unless expressly permitted and properly registered; and
comply with the Acceptable Use Policy and all applicable messaging laws, including the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the CAN-SPAM Act where relevant, state messaging laws, and CTIA and carrier guidelines.

5. Carrier registration (A2P 10DLC / toll-free verification)

Application-to-person business texting requires registration with the carriers. Depending on the number type you choose:

Toll-free numbers must complete toll-free verification; and
local (10DLC) numbers must complete A2P 10DLC brand and campaign registration.

You agree to provide accurate business information, use-case details, and sample messages needed for registration, and you acknowledge that the carriers — not NextForge — approve registrations and may reject, throttle, suspend, or filter traffic at their discretion. Unregistered or non-compliant traffic may be blocked. You are responsible for any pass-through carrier fees associated with registration or messaging that are disclosed to you.

6. Suspension for messaging violations

NextForge or its messaging provider may throttle, suspend, or terminate the messaging feature immediately if we or a carrier reasonably believe your traffic violates these terms, the law, or carrier rules, or generates excessive spam complaints. We may do so without prior notice where necessary to protect the Service, recipients, or our carrier relationships.

7. Indemnification

In addition to the indemnity in the Terms of Service, you will defend and indemnify NextForge and its messaging provider against any claims, fines, penalties, or losses arising from messages you send through the Service, including claims that a message was unsolicited, lacked required consent, or violated messaging or privacy laws.

8. Deliverability and no guarantee

Message delivery depends on carriers and factors outside our control. NextForge does not guarantee that any message will be delivered, delivered on time, or free from carrier filtering.

Model opt-in language (for a subscriber to show its customers)

"By providing your mobile number, you agree to receive text messages from [BUSINESS NAME] related to your service, appointments, and account (and, if you check the box, promotions). Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe or HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy at [URL] and Terms at [URL]."

Standard keywords

STOP — the recipient is unsubscribed from further messages and receives one confirmation. Variations such as STOPALL, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, and QUIT are also honored where supported.
HELP — the recipient receives help information and a contact for the business.
START / UNSTOP — a previously opted-out recipient may opt back in.

Model program disclosures

Program description: [BUSINESS NAME] sends service, appointment, account, and (if opted in) promotional messages.
Message frequency: varies based on your account and service activity.
Cost: message and data rates may apply from your carrier.
Carrier disclaimer: carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
Support and opt-out: reply HELP for help or STOP to cancel; or contact [BUSINESS SUPPORT CONTACT].
Privacy: mobile opt-in information and consent are not sold or shared with third parties for their own marketing. See [PRIVACY POLICY URL].

9. Changes

We may update these Messaging Terms as law, carrier rules, or the feature change. Material changes will be communicated as described in the Terms of Service.

10. Contact

Questions about the messaging feature: [email protected].