If your phone rings at teatime with someone selling double glazing, boiler cover or “a free survey”, the Telephone Preference Service is the first thing to set up. It's free, it takes two minutes, and it makes those calls illegal. Here's how it works, and the honest truth about what it won't stop.
What the TPS is
The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is the UK's official “do not call” list for landlines and mobiles. Once your number is on it, organisations are not allowed to make unsolicited live sales or marketing calls to you. It's free, and you only have to register once.
The law behind it is enforced by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which can fine companies that ignore it.
Watch out for anyone charging you
The TPS never charges and never rings you asking for payment. Some companies charge to “stop nuisance calls” or pretend to be the TPS or BT. If anyone asks you to pay for TPS registration, it's a scam. Most people notice fewer sales calls well inside the 28 days companies are given to stop.
What the TPS stops, and what it doesn't
The TPS covers live, unsolicited sales and marketing calls from UK organisations. It doesn't cover:
- Scam calls. Criminals don't check the list. Treat any unexpected call asking for money, passwords or bank details as suspect, whatever the TPS says.
- Companies you've said yes to. If you agreed that a company could call you before you registered, it still can. Tell it directly to stop.
- Recorded messages, silent calls and market research. Different rules apply to those.
- Overseas callers, debt collection, and service calls from your bank or card company about your account.
- Friends, family or anyone not selling something. The TPS doesn't block your line; it just makes sales calls to you illegal.
For the calls it can't stop, block the numbers on your phone. Our guide to blocking numbers covers iPhone, Android and landlines, including free call-blocking services from phone providers.
What to do if the calls carry on
- Sales calls after 28 days: complain. You can use the TPS's own complaint service on its website (it passes every complaint to the ICO), or report the call to the ICO directly. Note the date, time, number and company name if you can.
- Scam calls: report them to Report Fraud, or Police Scotland if you live in Scotland.
- Silent or abandoned calls: these are for Ofcom.
If a caller says they're from your bank and something feels off, hang up. Our guide to checking it's really your bank explains the safe way to call back.
Registering a business number
Limited companies and other organisations use the Corporate TPS, which you'll find on the same website. Sole traders and most partnerships count as individuals and can use the ordinary TPS.
How to cut down junk mail too
The same idea exists for post. The Mailing Preference Service (mpsonline.org.uk) is free and cuts down addressed marketing mail. It won't stop post from abroad, leaflets through the door, or letters addressed to “The Occupier”, and it can take up to three months to take full effect.
How to stop it at the source
The TPS deals with the calls you already get. The other half is not handing the number out in the first place, since most forms ask for it to market to you rather than because the sale needs it. Our guide to email aliases and throwaway numbers covers when you can safely give something other than your real number, and when doing that will lock you out of your own account.