Unwanted robocalls and spam texts aren’t just annoying—they can disrupt work, sleep, and peace of mind. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a federal law that restricts certain automated calls and texts. Whether a specific call/text violates the law depends on details like consent, the type of technology used, and the content.
This post focuses on what you can do today: document the problem clearly.
What types of communications raise TCPA concerns?
Examples consumers often report:
- Repeated marketing texts after you asked them to stop
- Robocalls using an artificial or prerecorded voice
- Calls/texts to a cell phone using automated systems
- Calls to numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry (in some contexts)
Not every unwanted message is automatically illegal. Documentation helps sort that out.
The “TCPA evidence kit” checklist
1) Screenshots
Capture:
- The full message thread
- The phone number (or short code)
- Any opt-out language (“Reply STOP”)
- The date/time stamps
2) Call logs and voicemails
Save:
- Missed call logs
- Voicemail recordings
- Any transcript your phone generates
3) Consent history
Try to reconstruct:
- Where you may have entered your number (online forms, checkout pages)
- Any checkbox language you agreed to
- Whether you revoked consent (and how)
4) Your opt-out attempts
Keep proof of:
- “STOP” replies
- Emails requesting removal
- Notes of phone calls requesting no contact
Practical steps to reduce the flood
- Use your phone’s spam filtering features
- Block numbers (but keep evidence first)
- Don’t click suspicious links
- Consider creating a separate number for online forms
Common pitfalls
- Deleting texts before screenshotting
- Only saving a few examples (patterns matter)
- Forgetting to document opt-out attempts
When to talk to a lawyer
If you have repeated unwanted calls/texts, especially after opting out, an attorney can help evaluate whether the pattern fits within TCPA protections and what options may exist.
] If you’re dealing with persistent robocalls or spam texts and you’ve saved screenshots and call logs, Ginsburg Law Group, PC can review your documentation and explain potential next steps.
