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Saturday 31st October 2026 | Telephone numbers on TPS: 13,484,050 | Telephone numbers on CTPS: 1,075,998 | Total numbers registered: 14,560,048
121prodata Ltd
01451 860805

TPS and the Law

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What the law says about marketing calls

The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (PECR) regulate the use of electronic communications for unsolicited marketing to individuals and organisations.

You must not make marketing calls to any number listed on the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) or Corporate TPS (CTPS), unless that person has specifically consented to your calls. You can call a number if it is not listed on the TPS or CTPS. So you need to screen call lists against the TPS and CTPS before you start calling.

You then need to re-screen call lists against TPS and CTPS every 28 days, if you are still calling on the same list:

  • The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is a central opt-out register whereby individuals, sole traders and partnerships, can register their wish not to receive unsolicited sales and marketing telephone calls. It is a legal requirement that companies do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS.
  • The Corporate Telephone Preference Service (CTPS) is the central opt-out register whereby corporate subscribers (including limited companies, PLCs, limited liability partnerships, Scottish partnerships, government bodies, schools, colleges and charities) can register their wish not to receive unsolicited marketing calls. It is a legal requirement that companies do not make such calls to numbers registered on the CTPS.
Staying legal when marketing by phone: the full guide


The rules at a glance

Six points to keep in mind before you pick up the phone. Each one has more detail in our full guide.

  1. Service calls and marketing calls are different. A genuine customer service call is not direct marketing. But if the call starts promoting extra products, upgrades or renewals, it becomes a marketing call and the marketing rules apply. More detail.
  2. You need a lawful basis. A telephone number that identifies a person is personal data, so UK GDPR applies as well as PECR. You will need to rely on either consent or legitimate interests. More detail.
  3. Live calls have their own rules. Don't call anyone who has told you they don't want your calls, or whose number is on the TPS or CTPS without their consent. Say who is calling, show your number, provide an address or freephone number if asked, and make it easy to opt out of further calls. More detail.
  4. Some sectors are stricter. Claims management and pension schemes have tougher rules, and in most cases you need consent. More detail.
  5. Automated calls need specific consent. Calls that play a recorded message are only allowed if the person has specifically agreed to receive that kind of call. More detail.
  6. Calling businesses follows the same rules. Business numbers must also be screened. Sole traders and some partnerships can be registered on the TPS, so you need to check both the TPS and CTPS. More detail.

Calling people outside the UK? The TPS and CTPS only cover UK numbers. Other countries have their own rules and many have their own do-not-call registers, so check local requirements.



Should I check against TPS, CTPS or both?

The Information Commissioner’s Office recommends that you check against both TPS and CTPS registers, so that all registered numbers are identified and can be excluded from calling.

By using 121prodata, you can be sure that your numbers are checked against both the TPS and CTPS registers, every time.

For more information about the rules for making live calls, please see guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office.



Avoid a fine of up to £17.5m or 4% of global turnover

Companies not meeting their legal obligations can receive a Monetary Penalty of up to £17.5m or 4% of global turnover, whichever is the higher, from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA) significantly increased penalties for breaches of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) from February 2026.

If you would like more information, please see the Information Commissioner’s Office website by going to www.ico.org.uk.



Ready to screen your numbers? Try the online TPS and CTPS Checker, or see all of our TPS and CTPS services.