Have you ever received a call on your mobile that has a recorded voice message for someone who has nothing to do with you? If yes, you may now have the right to get legal compensation. A US federal law—the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)—allows consumers to be compensated for such illegal calls between $500 and $1,500 per call.
What is TCPA and how does it protect you?
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a federal law that was enacted in the US in 1991. The purpose of this is to prevent companies from sending any automated calls or recorded voice messages to your cell phone without your prior consent.
This law specifically protects against calls that are robotic or computer generated, i.e., what are called “robocalls.” If a bank, telemarketing company, insurance agency or collection agency is calling you repeatedly or by mistake, this law can become your shield.
Under the TCPA, if a consumer receives a recorded voice call without permission, he can get compensation ranging from $500 to $1,500 per call.
Did the call come by mistake? Now this can be a big legal case.
Many times it happens that a person gets a new mobile number, and the same old number is called in the name of another customer. Companies do not know that the number has now been given to someone else and due to this, the call is made to the wrong number.
Let us understand this with an example—if a number is saved for a woman named ‘Maria’ in the records of a company and now the same number has been given to ‘David,’ then if the recorded voice call of that company goes to David, then it can be a TCPA violation.
Such calls are not just carelessness but also a violation of consumer privacy and can cause mental distress and inconvenience to the person.
Which companies have suffered the consequences of this?
This is no small matter. Big companies like Wells Fargo, Navient Solutions, Cox Communications, Convergent Outsourcing, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Synchrony Bank, and Adobe have paid millions of dollars in compensation due to such mistakes.
These companies sent robo-calls to customers without permission and for this they had to face class action lawsuits in court.
Dozens of thousands of consumers have been paid out in TCPA class action lawsuits, proving that this law is not just paper over paper but provides real compensation.
Are you eligible? Know the requirements.
If you received a recorded voice message on your cell phone that was meant for someone else, you may be eligible to participate in a TCPA class action lawsuit. Consider the following conditions:
- The call must be recorded (i.e., made by a machine, not a human).
- The call must have come to your cell phone.
- The call must have been made for someone else.
- The calling entity is contacting you without your consent.
If all of these conditions apply to your case, you have every right to seek compensation for this call.
How much compensation can you get?
According to the TCPA, a consumer can receive compensation of at least $500 for each illegal call or voice message and up to $1,500 if the court believes that the company made the calls intentionally.
If you have evidence of 10 such calls or messages, the amount can range from $5,000 to $15,000—and you don’t have to spend any special money for this.
How to make a claim? What is the process?
If you want to share your experience or claim compensation, you can contact a law firm or lawyer who specializes in TCPA cases.
You should have the following documents ready:
- Date and time of the call
- Call recording (if possible)
- Caller information (phone number, company name)
- Confirmation of ownership of your number
Sometimes law firms themselves collect your information through online claim forms and then file a lawsuit as a class action.
Conclusion: It is your right; don’t ignore it.
Wrong number calls may seem like a common thing, but when it happens frequently and affects your personal time and mental peace, it becomes a serious issue. Laws like the TCPA are made to protect your rights so that companies do not harass you without your permission.
If you think you have received a recorded voice call meant for someone else, it is time to raise your voice. This is not only justice for you but also a lesson to companies that are violating consumer privacy.
FAQs
Q. What is the TCPA?
A. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a U.S. federal law that prohibits businesses from making prerecorded or robocalls to your cell phone without your consent.
Q. How much compensation can I get for a wrong-number robocall?
A. You may be eligible to receive $500 to $1,500 per illegal robocall under the TCPA.
Q. Am I eligible if I received a robocall meant for someone else?
A. Yes, if you received a prerecorded voice message on your cell phone that was intended for another person, you may qualify to file a claim or join a class action.
Q. Which companies have paid for TCPA violations in the past?
A. Big companies like Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Synchrony Bank, and others have paid millions to settle TCPA class actions.
Q. How do I file a TCPA claim?
A. You can consult a law firm specializing in consumer protection or join an existing class action by submitting your call details, including the caller’s number and date of the call.
