How much is each illegal robocall worth under the TCPA?
The TCPA (47 U.S.C. 227) provides $500 in statutory damages per illegal call or text. If the violation was willful or knowing, a court may treble the award to $1,500 per call. There is no cap on the total, so a campaign of dozens of illegal calls can be worth tens of thousands of dollars.
What makes a robocall or text illegal under the TCPA?
Illegal calls include: autodialed or prerecorded calls and texts to your cell phone without prior express consent, telemarketing calls to a number on the National Do-Not-Call Registry, and calls after you asked the caller to stop. Informational autodialed texts to cell phones also require consent.
Can I stack Do-Not-Call and autodialer violations?
Sometimes. A single call can violate more than one TCPA provision — for example, an autodialed telemarketing call to a Do-Not-Call registered number. Courts are split, but many allow separate $500 recoveries for distinct statutory violations arising from the same call, effectively stacking damages.
Do I need a lawyer to sue for robocalls?
You can file in small claims court for a handful of calls without a lawyer. For larger campaigns, a consumer-protection attorney can pursue the full $500 to $1,500 per call and sometimes a class action. Preserve evidence: screenshots of texts, call logs, voicemails, and any consent forms you never signed.