How to Stop Cold Calls Legally in the UK (TPS Guide)
Unwanted sales and marketing calls - often called cold calls - are a major nuisance across the United Kingdom. While not all cold calls are illegal, you have the legal right to reduce or stop them by registering with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS).
What Is TPS?
TPS is a free service that records your preference not to receive unsolicited sales or marketing calls. Once registered, legitimate UK companies are legally required to stop contacting your number for marketing purposes.
How to Register with TPS
- Visit the official TPS registration website .
- Enter your UK landline or mobile number.
- Confirm your registration via email or phone verification.
- Wait up to 28 days for full activation.
Registration is completely free and typically takes only a few minutes.
What Happens After You Register?
After registration, organisations must screen their marketing lists against the TPS database. If a company continues to call you without consent, they may be in breach of UK data protection and privacy laws.
How to Further Reduce Cold Calls
- Use built-in spam filtering on your smartphone.
- Install a reputable spam call blocking app.
- Do not share your number unnecessarily online.
- Be cautious when entering competitions or online forms.
- Report persistent nuisance calls to the ICO .
Are Cold Calls Ever Legal?
Yes. Companies may legally call you if you have previously given consent, are an existing customer, or if the call is not related to marketing. However, you always have the right to withdraw consent at any time.