Robocalls aren't just annoying — they're illegal in many cases. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) gives you a private right of action with statutory damages of $500 to $1,500 per illegal call. Used aggressively, this can transform a nuisance into a meaningful claim.
Add your number at donotcall.gov. After 31 days, most legitimate telemarketers must stop calling. Scammers ignore the list, but registration creates a paper trail useful in TCPA enforcement.
Under 47 USC §227, calls made with an autodialer or pre-recorded message to your cell phone (or unsolicited robocalls to landlines) require prior express consent. No consent = $500 per call statutory damages, tripled to $1,500 if willful.
Keep a log: date, time, number, and the content of the call. Save any voicemails. If a live person comes on, ask the company name and address. This documentation is your evidence in any TCPA action.
Major carriers offer free spam-blocking (T-Mobile Scam Shield, AT&T Active Armor, Verizon Call Filter). Apps like Robokiller, Hiya, and Truecaller add another layer. iPhone and Android have built-in unknown-caller silence options.
TCPA cases often settle for thousands of dollars per consumer. Many TCPA attorneys work on contingency. Class actions against major spam callers regularly recover seven and eight figures, with consumer payments in the hundreds.
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NotALawyer.com provides general legal information, not legal advice.