01
Unsolicited marketing
A prerecorded sales call, AI-generated voice pitch, or automated marketing text may raise TCPA questions when required consent is missing. Unsolicited loan and insurance offers are common examples, but the details matter.
02
Do Not Call requests
Repeated sales calls after 31 days on the National Registry—or after a direct request that a particular company stop—may implicate different Do Not Call rules. Exceptions can apply.
03
Debt collection calls
Debt collection contact is not automatically telemarketing. The FDCPA and Regulation F separately address harassment, call timing, and frequency for covered debt collectors. More than seven calls in seven days about a particular debt can create a rebuttable presumption of a violation; this is not an absolute cap.
- Calls generally should not arrive before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. local time
- A collector generally should not call within seven days after a phone conversation about that debt
- Original creditors are often outside the federal FDCPA definition
04
Preserve what happened
Save the original texts and voicemails, screenshots, call logs, caller number, date and time, company name, and any opt-out request. Do not alter original records. This practical checklist is general information, not a statement that evidence proves a claim.
Sources and updates
Last reviewed: September 2026
This page is written from official federal material. Rules change, and agencies update their guidance—check the primary sources below for the current version.
Educational information only. Not legal advice, and not a substitute for consulting a licensed attorney about your situation. Need a term explained? Read the plain-language glossary.