Meta Tech ProviderWhatsApp error 138006: No permission to call this person
The recipient — not your account. What it means, how to fix it, and whether to retry.
WhatsApp error 138006 means the business tried to call someone who hasn't allowed calls from it. WhatsApp only lets a business call a person who has granted call permission — by accepting a call permission request, or for seven days after they called the business themselves.
Why it happens
- The person never accepted a call permission request from this business.
- Their temporary permission (seven days) has expired.
- They revoked permission, or WhatsApp revoked it after four unanswered calls in a row.
How to fix error 138006
- Send a call permission request — free inside the 24-hour chat window, a template outside it.
- Call once they accept. A person who calls you grants seven days of permission automatically, when callbacks are on.
Should you retry?
Not until permission is granted. Requests are limited to one a day and two a week per person.
How to prevent it
- Ask for permission when the conversation is warm, not before a cold call.
- Don't leave calls unanswered — four in a row revoke permission.
Common questions
Can a business call a WhatsApp user without permission?
No. WhatsApp refuses the call with error 138006.
How long does WhatsApp call permission last?
Temporary permission lasts seven days; permanent permission lasts until the person revokes it.
How ThinnestAI shows it
On ThinnestAI every message WhatsApp doesn't deliver shows WhatsApp's own message first — word for word, with its code — and what it means underneath, on the broadcast and in the inbox. Undelivered messages aren't charged. See the WhatsApp Business API.