TCPA consent — what it means
This article is for consumers. The TCPA consent step asks whether you're okay with the agency contacting you (call, text, voicemail) about your insurance inquiry. Saying yes lets them follow up flexibly; saying no limits how they can reach you.
In short: TCPA consent is your permission for the insurance agency to call or text you about your inquiry. Saying yes is normal; saying no is also fine but limits how they can reach out.
What TCPA is
TCPA stands for the Telephone Consumer Protection Act — a U.S. law that regulates calls and texts to consumers, especially automated ones. Companies have to ask for permission before they can contact you in certain ways.
The consent step in the form is the agency’s way of getting that permission, on the record, with a timestamp.
What you’re agreeing to
When you accept TCPA consent on a SALT form, you’re typically agreeing that:
- The agency can call you at the phone number you provided
- The agency can text you
- They can use automated systems (call queues, text reminders, voicemail drops) for those communications
- The contact is for the insurance inquiry you submitted (not unrelated marketing — that’s usually separate consent)
The exact terms appear on the form itself. Read them.
What if you refuse
You can say no to TCPA consent. What changes:
- The agency may still be able to email you (since email isn’t covered by TCPA)
- They may not be able to call or text you proactively
- For some agencies, refusing TCPA may block automated follow-up entirely
- Manual contact (a person picking up the phone to call you) is generally still allowed
In short: refusing TCPA is a legitimate choice that doesn’t disqualify you from a quote, but it does limit how the agency can reach you. If you have a strong preference for email-only communication, refusing TCPA is the way to enforce it.
How consent is recorded
When you accept TCPA, SALT records:
- The exact text of what you agreed to
- Your IP address
- The timestamp
- The phone number the consent applies to
This record is the agency’s proof, in case it’s ever needed in a dispute.
Revoking consent later
If you change your mind:
- Tell the agency directly — call or email them and ask to be removed from contact
- Reply STOP to a text — most automated text systems honor STOP and remove you from the list
- Unsubscribe from emails — if you’re getting marketing email separately, the unsubscribe link in those emails works
The agency is required to honor revocations.
Common questions
Will I get spam if I accept TCPA? TCPA covers contact about your specific inquiry — quotes, follow-ups, policy questions. It doesn’t open you to unrelated marketing unless you also opted into separate marketing consent.
Why does my consent record show my IP address? The IP timestamp helps the agency prove you actually accepted (not someone spoofing the form). It’s standard practice for legally meaningful consents.
Can I review the exact text I agreed to? Ask the agency for a copy of the consent record. SALT stores it; they can retrieve and share with you.
Is TCPA consent shared with other companies? Your TCPA consent applies to the agency that asked for it. They shouldn’t share or sell that consent to third parties without separate, explicit permission from you.