WhatsApp Business API – Your Account Phone Restricted or Banned, Here's How to Fix It
Strictly following WhatsApp's Business Platform policy is essential to maintaining a healthy business account and avoiding any restrictions or blocking of your business number.
Using a WhatsApp Business Platform is a powerful tool for boosting customer engagement and automating conversations, helping drive business growth. However, violating WhatsApp’s policies and non-compliance can lead to account restrictions, blocking, or even permanent bans. If your phone number is restricted, you will lose the ability to send messages, impacting your business operations. In this article, we try to find the possible reasons for such restrictions on your account phone and the best practices to prevent it or recover it if feasible.
Why Did WhatsApp Restrict/Block/Ban your Business Phone Number?
WhatsApp is a very popular messaging application for personal communications and, now, for business messaging as well. With Meta opening WhatsApp for businesses, there is a scope for it to be misused, violating its messaging policy or business T&Cs. WhatsApp closely monitors business accounts for policy violations and applies varying degrees of restrictions depending on the severity of the policy violation.
Report Spam: If a high number of your recipients report the messages sent by your business as “Report Spam”. This is considered a violation of WhatsApp policy and could result in a restriction on your business phone if instances or frequency of such reporting is high. Anything more than 2% increases the risk.
User blocking the Business Number: A significant number of users who receive messages from your business “Block” the business number, this is a flag of potential violation of WhatsApp policy. Any block rate of 5% or more may invite a restriction.
Misuse of Template Messages: Misuse of template messages for sending misleading, highly promotional messages that don’t comply with WhatsApp message template policy. Use of promotional content in other message categories is a violation of policy as well
Not Opt-out to Message Recipients: Not providing an option for template message recipients to opt-out from receiving messages is a policy violation, and WhatsApp can flag the business number for such violations.
Promoting or selling restricted/prohibited items: Use of WhatsApp Business Platform for sales or promotion of banned or restricted products will lead to a strict penalty, including a permanent ban on the business number.
Account Issues: Improper/Fake business information or an unverified business account could lead to a ban on the business number.
Ignoring Policy Violation Warnings: Ignoring policy violation flags or notifications and not taking corrective measures increases the risk of a business phone restriction or block.
What error messages would you observe from WhatsApp if your number is restricted?
Error Codes:
131044 - This business phone number is not allowed to send messages
131048 - Business account restricted
131056 - Phone number banned from using WhatsApp
Meta Business Suite / WhatsApp Manager:
Account Restricted Flag
Policy Violation warning in your phone number status
Email with “ Action Required: Your WhatsApp Business Account Access”
How to Unblock or Remove Restrictions on Your WhatsApp Business API Account
- File an appeal with WhatsApp Support
Use this form to submit a ticket
Provide business verification details, your opt-in framework, your justification for violation or action plan, or any other necessary details warranted.
2. Contact your WhatsApp Solution Provider
If your account is managed by a WhatsApp Solution Provider (e.g., Chakra WhatsApp), contact their support team to assist in reinstating your business number
3. Review your Quality Rating
If your business number is just temporarily restricted, monitor your quality rating and build a plan to improve your rating
Reduce spammy content and follow other best practices to build a healthy auality rating to recover your business number completely
4. Get a New Number
If your business number ban is permanent, consider registering a new number with WhatsApp API.
Best Practices to Avoid Risk of a Business Phone Block or Restrictions
Get explicit Opt-ins from Users: Ensure you have a robust opt-in mechanism to send messages only to these opted-in users.
Closely Monitor your Block and Spam Rates: Do your diligence to monitor your block/spam rates routinely and take necessary action to prevent policy violations due to high spam rates.
Use Message Templates Judiciously: Only use the appropriate category of message templates for relevant content types. Mixing content categories may invite restrictions on your number.
Business Verification: Complete your business verification to avoid any restriction on your WhatsApp business number
Messaging Volume: Increase your messaging volume gradually over time, keeping track of your quality rating
WhatsApp Business API is an effective communication solution, but compliance is key to avoiding restrictions or bannings. By following best practices, managing a good quality rating, and ensuring customer-friendly interactions, businesses can keep a healthy business account.
If your WhatsApp Business API phone is restricted, take immediate steps to address the issue and reach out to WhatsApp or your WhatsApp Solution Provider.