SMS Opt-In Policy

Last updated: August 15, 2026

This page documents how Circles obtains consent before any text message is sent, for carrier and compliance review. Circles sends only two kinds of texts, both triggered by a user action — account verification codes and invitations/eCards a member explicitly asks us to deliver. Circles never sends marketing or promotional texts.

Summary: Every message is user-initiated. Members verify their own number before they can send anything. Invitations go only to people the member personally selects, with the consent language shown at the Send button, a hard cap of two reminders, and STOP honored across the entire service.

1. Verification codes (account holders)

When a member adds a mobile number to their Circles account, the app shows this consent language directly beneath the phone-number field, before anything is sent:

By continuing, you agree to receive a one-time verification code by text. Msg & data rates may apply.

Tapping "Send code" sends a single one-time passcode via Twilio Verify. No further texts are sent to the member unless they later request another code or use the invitation feature. Sample message:

Your Circles verification code is: 123456

2. Invitations and eCards (recipients chosen by a member)

The invitation flow works like this:

A member — whose own number has already been verified — picks a person to invite from their own phone's contacts or by typing the name and number themselves. Circles never uploads or mines the member's contact list; only the individually selected recipient is submitted.
The send screen shows the recipient, a preview of the exact message, and consent microcopy at the Send button (shown below). The member must tap Send invite to trigger the message.
Circles delivers the invitation text on the member's behalf. If the recipient doesn't respond, Circles sends at most two follow-up reminders, then stops permanently. Accepting the invite, or replying STOP, halts reminders immediately.

The send screen (illustrative rendering): recipient, exact message preview, consent microcopy, and the Send button.

Sample invitation message

Hi Alex! Jordan invited you to join their Circle on Circles to share birthdays & celebrations: https://joinmycircles.com/join-circle?code=XXXX Msg&data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help.

Sample reminder message (maximum 2 per invitation)

Reminder: Jordan's invitation to join their Circle on Circles is waiting for you: https://joinmycircles.com/join-circle?code=XXXX Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help.

3. Message frequency, rates, and caps

Message frequency varies with the member's own activity (verification codes) and, for recipients, with invitations members send.
Message and data rates may apply.
Each invitation is capped at the initial message plus at most two reminders. After that, no further messages are sent for that invitation.
Consent to receive texts is never a condition of purchase.

4. Opt-out and help (STOP / HELP)

Replying STOP to any Circles message immediately stops all Circles texts to that number — including pending invitation reminders from any member. Opt-outs are honored service-wide, not per-sender.
Replying HELP returns a help message with our support contact.
Anyone can also contact support@joinmycircles.com to opt out or to request deletion of their name and number.

5. Data handling

Recipient names and numbers are used solely to deliver the requested invitation and its capped reminders, and to honor opt-outs. They are never used for marketing, never sold, and never shared with third parties or affiliates for their marketing purposes. Full details: Privacy Policy · Terms of Service — Text Messaging Program.