Reassigned number
A number reissued to a new subscriber after the previous holder gave it up.
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A reassigned number is one that has been given to a different person after its previous holder stopped using it. Carriers return disconnected numbers to a pool and reissue them, typically after a holding period.
This creates a specific compliance hazard. Consent belongs to the person, not the digits, so any opt-in you hold becomes invalid the moment the number changes hands — and nothing notifies you when that happens. Continuing to message the number means contacting a stranger without consent.
The FCC maintains a Reassigned Numbers Database precisely because of this risk. Combining periodic revalidation with consent records dated against the number is the practical defence.
Related terms and concepts
- Disconnected number — A number that is no longer assigned to an active subscriber and cannot be reached.
- Opt-in — A recipient explicitly granting permission to be contacted by call or text.
- TCPA — The US Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which governs automated calls and text messages.
- List hygiene — Keeping a contact list accurate and current by removing or flagging unusable records.
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