Robocall & TCPA questions, answered.

Often, yes, and these are some of the strongest cases. The TCPA (the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act) protects the person being called, not just customers. If a company auto-dials you or leaves prerecorded messages meant for a stranger or a previous owner of your number, you can have a claim even though you never did business with them. See wrong-number robocalls.

The TCPA sets damages at $500 per illegal call or text, rising to $1,500 when the violation is willful or knowing. Those amounts stack per call, so a pattern of calls adds up. In one real case, 385 wrong-number calls came to $577,500. See settlements.

An autodialer (the law calls it an “ATDS”) is technology that dials or texts numbers automatically, without a person dialing each one. Prerecorded and “artificial voice” messages count too. Calls and texts sent to your cell with this technology, without your permission, are generally illegal. More in what is a robocall?

It helps, and you probably have more than you think. Your call log, voicemails, and text screenshots are exactly what these cases run on. Keep them and don’t delete the calls. There are also other ways to establish the calls, so reach out even if your records are incomplete.

No. The case review is free, and Max works on contingency. His fee comes out of any recovery, and if there’s no recovery, you owe no attorney’s fee. There’s no cost to find out whether you qualify.

The TCPA generally gives you four years from the calls. Acting sooner also protects the evidence. See TCPA statute of limitations.

Yes. Auto-dialed debt-collection calls for a debt you don’t owe can be illegal under more than one law, and these cases can be valuable. One settled for $2.6 million. See wrong-number debt collection.

That can raise the value of your claim. Once you revoke consent, verbally or in writing, each continued call can be a separate violation, often at the higher $1,500 level. See calls after you said stop.

Registering stops legitimate telemarketers, usually within about 31 days. It doesn’t stop scammers, and some calls are exempt. Continued telemarketing after you register can be a violation worth $500 to $1,500 per call. See Do-Not-Call violations.

Yes. The TCPA treats marketing texts like calls. Unwanted promotional texts, especially after you reply STOP, can be worth $500 to $1,500 each. Screenshot them. See spam text lawsuits.

Max Morgan, Esq. is a Pennsylvania-licensed attorney (PA Bar #316096) with The Weitz Firm who has recovered millions for people harassed by illegal calls. The TCPA is federal, so he represents consumers nationwide. About Max.