Compliance · 7 min read

SMS Marketing & GDPR in Greece: what applies

Compliant SMS campaigns are not complicated, as long as you know the basic rules on consent, opt-out and sending hours. A practical guide.

Note: this article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For your business's compliance, consult a lawyer or DPO.

SMS marketing in Greece is governed by the GDPR and the national legislation on electronic communications. The key rule is simple: for promotional messages you need prior consent and, always, an opt-out option.

Transactional vs promotional messages

The distinction is decisive:

  • Transactional: order confirmation, shipping notification, OTP code, appointment reminder. They relate to a service the user requested.
  • Promotional: offers, discounts, new products. They require explicit consent (opt-in).

Consent (opt-in): how to do it right

  • Freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous, e.g. a checkbox that is not pre-ticked.
  • Clear purpose: the user knows they will receive promotional SMS.
  • Keep proof: date/time, IP and the exact consent text.

With iSend's contact management you record consents, and at checkout you can verify the phone number with OTP (see Abandoned Carts).

Right to opt out

Every promotional SMS must offer an easy way to unsubscribe, usually with the word STOP or an unsubscribe link. When someone opts out, stop immediately and add them to a blocklist so they never receive another message.

Quiet hours

Avoid sending late at night or early in the morning. Beyond legality, respecting the recipient's time reduces complaints and opt-outs. The iSend platform supports quiet hours settings.

Compliance checklist

  • ✔ Explicit consent for promotional messages
  • ✔ Proof of consent (timestamp, IP, text)
  • ✔ Opt-out option in every message
  • ✔ Up-to-date blocklists
  • ✔ Respect for quiet hours
  • ✔ Transparent purpose & sender identity (Sender ID)

Conclusion

Compliance is not an obstacle, it is a competitive advantage. Campaigns built on proper consent get better engagement, fewer complaints and build trust. By choosing a platform with built-in GDPR tools, compliance comes built in by default.

Frequently asked questions

For promotional messages, yes. For transactional messages (e.g. OTP, order confirmation, appointment reminder) that relate to a service the user requested, different rules apply.

Date and time, the method/point of collection, the IP address and the exact text the user accepted.

With the word STOP or an unsubscribe link in every promotional message. The recipient must be added to a blocklist automatically.

Avoid quiet hours (night/early morning). Send at reasonable hours of the day for better response and fewer complaints.

SMS marketing with built-in compliance

Consent, opt-out, blocklists & quiet hours, all built into iSend.

Contact management