> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.stardex.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# “Do Not Contact” / Off-limits Lists
> Mark people and companies off-limits, set expirations, and configure rules that block outreach.
[Watch the video on Loom](https://www.loom.com/share/7a8f211425ad47249249a2a809892abc)
As you close searches with Stardex, you'll often want to mark candidates and client companies as off-limits for future email campaigns. Stardex lets you do this manually at any time, automatically when you create searches or log placements, and it enforces these blocks everywhere outreach happens — including the Chrome extension.
## **Marking records manually**
You can mark DNC at both the candidate and client company level.
* **Candidate:** On a candidate's profile, click **Actions → Mark as Do Not Contact**.
* **Client company:** On a client company's detail view, click **Actions → Mark as Do Not Contact**.
When marking, you can optionally add a **reason** and set an **expiration date** (more on expirations below).
> *\[Insert candidate Actions screenshot] \[Insert company Actions screenshot]*
## **How DNC blocks outreach**
Once a record is marked, Stardex blocks outreach in every channel:
* **Bulk and single enrollment** are blocked for any DNC candidate.
* **Company-level DNC** blocks anyone whose *current company* is marked, even if the person isn't individually flagged.
* **The Chrome extension** respects these blocks too — you'll see a warning when trying to enroll a blocked candidate.
* Marking an existing candidate as DNC will **cancel their active campaign enrollments** (you'll see a warning showing which campaigns are affected before you confirm).
> *\[Insert enrollment-blocked screenshot] \[Insert Chrome extension block screenshot]*
## **Expirations**
Every DNC can either expire or stay permanent:
* **Set number of days** — the DNC automatically lifts after the chosen number of days (default is 90).
* **Indefinite (forever)** — no expiration is set; the record stays DNC until someone manually removes it.
When an expiration date passes, Stardex automatically clears the DNC and the record becomes contactable again — no manual cleanup needed.
## **Automatic DNC (Settings → Do Not Contact)**
Admins can configure Stardex to automatically suggest marking the **client company** as DNC during key workflows. Each of these is configured independently in **Settings → Do Not Contact**.
### **Enforcement toggles**
* **Enforce Person Do Not Contact** — prevent emails to people marked DNC.
* **Enforce Company Do Not Contact** — prevent emails to people whose current company is marked DNC.
### **Auto DNC on new search/job**
When enabled, creating a new search shows a **pre-checked** "Mark client company as Do Not Contact" option, so it's harder to forget. You set a default number of days (or indefinite), and it can be adjusted per search.
* **Expiration starts:** immediately, when the search is created.
### **Auto DNC on new placement**
When enabled, logging a placement shows the same **pre-checked** option, with a default duration you can adjust per placement.
* **Expiration starts:** from the **candidate's start date** — not the day the placement is logged. This ensures the DNC window covers the post-placement period correctly.
## **Precedence rules**
To avoid weakening stricter settings:
* If a company already has an **indefinite** DNC, auto-DNC will **not** overwrite it — the indefinite setting wins. You'll see a warning explaining this.
* If a company already has a DNC with a **different expiration date**, creating a new search/placement will update it to the new window, and you'll be warned before it changes.
Stardex will now block the candidates from being enrolled in bulk and single enrollment:
The Stardex Chrome extension will respect these blocks as well! Here’s what you’ll see when trying to enroll a candidate from the Chrome extension.
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