Phone Number Scrubbing: Remove Landlines & Bad Numbers
Stop wasting time on landlines and disconnected numbers. Our phone scrubbing service identifies mobile vs landline, removes invalid numbers, and ensures DNC compliance—all in seconds.
What Our Phone Scrubbing Removes
Landlines
Traditional wired phones that have low answer rates and often connect to fax machines or business lines.
Invalid Numbers
Numbers with incorrect formats, impossible area codes, or too few/many digits.
Disconnected Numbers
Numbers that are no longer in service or have been reassigned.
DNC Numbers
Contacts registered on Federal or State Do-Not-Call registries.
Why Mobile Numbers Outperform Landlines
The difference between calling mobile numbers and landlines is dramatic. Mobile phones are personal devices that people carry with them and answer regularly. Landlines, on the other hand, are often:
- Answered by voicemail or answering machines
- Connected to fax machines
- Shared business lines with gatekeepers
- Simply never answered (especially in younger demographics)
By removing landlines from your call lists, you focus your agents' time on numbers that are actually likely to answer. This translates directly to more conversations, more sales, and better ROI on your calling campaigns.
How Phone Number Scrubbing Works
Upload Your Phone List
Upload a CSV or Excel file with phone numbers. We support any format and automatically detect the phone column.
Real-Time Carrier Lookup
Each number is checked against carrier databases to identify line type (mobile, landline, VoIP) and connection status.
DNC Registry Check
Numbers are scrubbed against Federal DNC and all state-level Do-Not-Call registries for compliance.
Download Segmented Results
Get separate files: valid mobiles (your clean list), removed landlines, DNC matches, and invalid numbers.
What You'll Receive
After scrubbing, you'll receive a complete breakdown of your data in separate, easy-to-use files:
All your original data columns are preserved. We only add line type and validation status columns—we never remove or modify your existing data.
Phone Scrubbing FAQs
What is phone number scrubbing?
Phone number scrubbing is the process of validating and cleaning phone numbers in your contact database. It identifies and removes landlines, disconnected numbers, invalid formats, and numbers registered on Do-Not-Call lists, leaving you with a clean list of valid mobile numbers.
How do you identify landlines vs mobile numbers?
We use real-time carrier lookup technology that queries telecom databases to identify the line type for each number. This returns whether a number is a mobile (wireless), landline (wireline), or VoIP number with 98%+ accuracy.
Why should I remove landlines from my call list?
Landlines have significantly lower answer rates than mobile phones—often 5-10% compared to 30-40% for mobiles. Additionally, many landlines go to fax machines or business lines. Removing landlines focuses your calling on numbers most likely to connect with real prospects.
What happens to invalid phone numbers?
Invalid numbers are separated into a reject file that you can download. This includes disconnected numbers, numbers with invalid formats, and numbers that fail carrier validation. You'll know exactly what was removed and why.
How often is your DNC data updated?
We update our DNC database daily with the latest Federal Trade Commission data and state-level registry updates. This ensures you're always scrubbing against the most current Do-Not-Call information available.
Can I scrub against my own suppression list?
Yes, you can upload your internal do-not-call list or previous customer file, and we'll remove any matches. This helps you honor opt-out requests and avoid calling existing customers.
What file format will I receive?
You'll receive CSV files that include: (1) your cleaned list with only valid mobile numbers, (2) a file of removed landlines, (3) a file of DNC matches, and (4) a file of invalid/disconnected numbers. All original data columns are preserved.
Limitations: When Phone Scrubbing Is Not a Fit
Phone number scrubbing validates and cleans phone data, but has specific constraints:
- ✕Does not create new contacts — Scrubbing cleans your existing list; use our lead marketplace for new leads.
- ✕Line type accuracy is 98% — While highly accurate, a small percentage may be misidentified.
- ✕Cannot guarantee answer rates — We identify mobile numbers, but answering depends on the recipient.
- ✕US numbers only — Our carrier lookup is optimized for US phone numbers.
- ✕Numbers can be ported — A number's line type can change if the owner ports to a different carrier.
Best for: Outbound sales teams who want to maximize connect rates by focusing calls on verified mobile numbers instead of landlines.
Clean Your Phone Lists Today
Upload your list and get instant results. Remove landlines, invalid numbers, and DNC contacts in seconds.