You can stop marketing calls

A marketing call or text you never agreed to is not the same as fraud. Fraud is a crime; unwanted marketing can be technically lawful, but you have a clear right to stop it. The rules are PECR (the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003), enforced by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

What the law says about calls

A company must not make unsolicited marketing calls to you if either of these applies (regulation 21):

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• you previously told that company not to call you for marketing — it must stop; or
• your number is listed on the official opt-out register.

Separately, anyone making a marketing call must show their number, or provide a number you can call back. A withheld number on a marketing call breaks the rules.

The free opt-out register (TPS)

You can register free through the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) — the official register the law refers to. It works for mobile and landline numbers.

One detail: the law gives companies 28 days to update their lists, so calls in the first four weeks after you register are not a breach. After that, marketing calls should stop.

Texts and email

For marketing by text and email the rule is stricter (regulation 22): you normally must have given prior consent. There is an exception for existing customers: if a company got your details during a sale or negotiations for a sale, it may market only similar products and services, and must give a simple free way to opt out in every message.

From 5 February 2026 a separate exception also covers charities contacting people who previously supported their causes — but a simple opt-out is still required.

What this does NOT cover

These rules are about marketing. They do not apply to scam calls: if someone rushes you, asks for a password, a one-time code or card details, that is fraud. Report it free to 7726 and, if money was lost, to your bank and Action Fraud. The rules also do not undo calls you agreed to, or non-marketing contact.

How to complain

1. Tell the company directly to remove you from its calls and lists, and note the date.
2. Register your number free with the TPS.
3. If calls or texts continue, keep the sender's number and the date and time, and complain to the ICO, which can investigate and act against the sender.

Source: regulation 21 and regulation 22 of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (in force version). Checked 25 October 2026.