🇬🇧United Kingdom
Two regulators share responsibility: the ICO leads on live telesales calls, automated marketing calls and spam texts under PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations). Ofcom leads on silent/abandoned calls and network-level anti-spoofing measures.
TPS / CTPS
The Telephone Preference Service is the UK's do-not-call register. Companies are legally required to screen their calling lists against it, typically at least every 28 days.
Specific prior consent required
Recorded/automated marketing calls — including AI "avatar" calls — need specific prior consent under PECR, regardless of TPS status.
Consent or "soft opt-in"
Specific consent is required, with a limited exception for existing customers being marketed similar products.
Data (Use and Access) Act
Raised the maximum PECR fine to match UK GDPR (£17.5m or 4% of global turnover) and removed the need to prove "substantial damage and distress." Being phased in through 2026.
Recent enforcement
| Case | Fine |
|---|---|
| Aggressive/unwanted marketing calls (April 2024) | £340,000 (two companies) |
| Unlawful marketing calls, compensation-claims firm (April 2025) | £90,000 |
Where to report
- Scam texts/calls — forward to 7726 (spells "SPAM").
- Nuisance sales/marketing calls — ICO complaint form.
- Silent/abandoned calls — Ofcom.
- Scam/fraud calls — Action Fraud, 0300 123 2040 (Scotland: Police Scotland 101).
Sources: ICO — Guide to PECR · Ofcom — tackling nuisance calls · ICO — DUAA summary · Ofcom — 7726 reporting
🇺🇸United States
The FTC enforces the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) and runs the National Do Not Call Registry. The FCC enforces the TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) and mandates STIR/SHAKEN caller-ID authentication against spoofing.
donotcall.gov
Free registration. Exemptions apply: political calls, charities, an existing business relationship (up to 18 months after your last purchase), and debt collection.
8am–9pm, your local time
Telemarketing calls outside this window violate the TSR regardless of registry status.
Prior express consent required
Auto-dialed or prerecorded calls to cell phones need prior consent under the TCPA. Since Feb 2024, AI-cloned voices count as "artificial" voices too.
STIR/SHAKEN mandatory
Since June 30, 2021, major carriers must authenticate caller ID to fight number spoofing.
A distinctive US right: sue directly
Unlike most countries, the TCPA gives consumers a private right of action — you can sue a robocaller directly in court for $500 to $1,500 per violation, without needing an agency to act first.
Recent enforcement
| Case | Fine |
|---|---|
| Auto-warranty robocall scheme, 5+ billion spoofed calls (Aug 2023) | ~$300 million — FCC's largest-ever fine |
Where to report
- Fraud/scam complaints — reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Robocalls/robotexts — FCC complaint center.
- Spam texts — forward to 7726.
- Registry — donotcall.gov.
Sources: FTC — TSR & DNC Q&A · FCC — call authentication (STIR/SHAKEN) · FCC — AI voices ruling · FCC — record robocall fine · Congress.gov — TCPA text
🇦🇺Australia
ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) manages the Do Not Call Register, enforces telemarketing industry standards, and runs the new SMS Sender ID Register. Scamwatch, run by the ACCC's National Anti-Scam Centre, handles consumer scam reporting and education.
donotcall.gov.au
Free, permanent registration. Telemarketers have 30 days to stop calling a newly registered number. Exemptions: charities, political parties, education, government.
Weekdays 9am–8pm, Sat 9am–5pm
No calls Sundays or public holidays. Caller ID cannot be withheld and callers must identify themselves.
Consent required for SMS/email
Express or reasonably inferred consent needed; every message needs a working unsubscribe, actioned within 5 business days.
SMS Sender ID Register
Live from ~July 2026: brands (banks, myGov, AusPost) must register their sender ID. Unregistered senders are labelled "Unverified" and separated into their own thread.
Recent enforcement
| Case | Fine |
|---|---|
| Woolworths — 5M+ Spam Act breaches (2020) | $1,003,800 — largest ACMA infringement notice to date |
| Federal Court telemarketing case (April 2025) | $1.5 million |
Where to report
- Do Not Call Register violations — donotcall.gov.au or 1300 792 958.
- Scams — scamwatch.gov.au.
- Identity theft / financial loss — ReportCyber.
Sources: ACMA — Do Not Call Register · Industry Standards · ACMA — SMS Sender ID Register · ACMA — Woolworths penalty · Scamwatch
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Who regulates telemarketing in the UK?
The ICO leads on live telesales calls, automated marketing calls, and spam texts under PECR. Ofcom leads on silent/abandoned calls and anti-spoofing. Companies must screen against the TPS register.
Who regulates telemarketing in the USA?
The FTC enforces the Telemarketing Sales Rule and Do Not Call Registry. The FCC enforces the TCPA and mandates STIR/SHAKEN. Consumers can also sue robocallers directly under the TCPA.
Who regulates telemarketing in Australia?
ACMA manages the Do Not Call Register and telemarketing/Spam Act enforcement. Scamwatch (ACCC) handles scam reporting and education.
What are the allowed telemarketing calling hours?
USA: 8am–9pm local time. Australia: weekdays 9am–8pm, Saturday 9am–5pm, none on Sundays/holidays. The UK doesn't set fixed hours by law but requires TPS screening and consent for automated calls.
How do I report a scam call or text?
UK: forward to 7726. USA: reportfraud.ftc.gov or forward texts to 7726. Australia: scamwatch.gov.au.
Official sources cited on this page
- ICO — Guide to PECR
- Ofcom — tackling nuisance calls and messages
- FTC — Telemarketing Sales Rule
- FCC — Call Authentication / STIR-SHAKEN
- ACMA — Do Not Call Register
- Scamwatch — report a scam
This page is an informational summary and not legal advice. Cited official texts take precedence — consult a legal professional or the regulator directly if in doubt.