Telephone Consumer Protection Act
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), explained
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a 1991 U.S. federal law that limits telemarketing calls, autodialed and prerecorded calls, and text messages. It is enforced by the FCC and through private lawsuits, which is why outbound teams pay close attention to it. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Who it applies to
Any business that calls or texts consumers in the U.S., including through vendors, dialers or lead buyers.
Consent rules
Autodialed or prerecorded calls and texts to mobile numbers generally need prior express consent; telemarketing generally needs prior express written consent.
Do Not Call and calling hours
Telemarketers must honor the National Do Not Call Registry and internal opt-outs, and call only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. local time.
Private right of action
Consumers can sue for $500 per violating call or text, up to $1,500 if the violation is willful or knowing.
Key TCPA terms
- Prior express written consent
- A signed agreement, which can be electronic, authorizing telemarketing calls or texts to a specific number.
- Autodialer (ATDS)
- Equipment covered by the TCPA's restrictions on automated calls; its definition has been shaped by court decisions.
- National Do Not Call Registry
- The federal list of numbers whose owners have opted out of most telemarketing calls.
- Reassigned numbers
- Numbers that changed owners; consent from a previous owner does not carry over.
- Serial litigators
- Plaintiffs who repeatedly file TCPA claims, often tracked on litigator lists.
How it works
- 01
Upload a CSV, paste numbers or send them through the API.
- 02
Each number is screened against the lists enabled on your account.
- 03
Get carrier, line type, region and an estimated time zone in the same result.
- 04
Review flagged numbers, export clean lists and keep the history as a record.
FAQ
General information, not legal advice. Screening results do not establish consent or legal compliance.
From the blog
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Serial TCPA plaintiffs turn unwanted calls and texts into lawsuits. Here's how they operate, what the statute allows them to claim, and why screening before you dial matters.
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Mobile, Landline or VoIP? Why Line Type Changes Your TCPA Risk
The same call can carry very different legal risk depending on what kind of line it reaches. Here's what line type tells you and how to use it.
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