compliance
A robocall is a phone call placed by automated dialing software rather than a live person. It often plays a pre-recorded message. Unsolicited robocalls to consumers are heavily restricted under US and UK law. Legitimate businesses can still use automated calls for appointment reminders with consent.
Automated dialing systems can place thousands of calls quickly, which is why the term became associated with scams and unwanted telemarketing. Legitimate uses exist too, such as an automated appointment reminder or a school closure alert. These are generally allowed with prior consent or an existing relationship.
In the US, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act restricts prerecorded and autodialed calls to consumers without consent. Penalties per violation can run into hundreds of dollars per call. As of July 2026, FCC rules also require robocall mitigation programs from carriers.
In the UK, Ofcom and the Information Commissioner's Office regulate automated calls under PECR, requiring consent for most automated marketing calls. This has different exceptions than the US TCPA framework.
Worked example
A 3-person dental office sends automated appointment reminder calls only to patients who booked and provided a phone number.
Because patients gave their number for that purpose, the reminders fall outside the restrictions that apply to unsolicited marketing robocalls.
Why it matters to a small team
A small business using automated calling for reminders or alerts needs to keep them tied to an existing customer relationship and clear consent. The penalties for unsolicited automated calls apply per call and add up fast.
No, automated calls to people who have given consent or have an existing business relationship, such as an appointment reminder, are generally allowed. Unsolicited marketing robocalls without consent are the type restricted by law.
Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, violations can carry penalties of $500 to $1,500 per call as of July 2026, which escalates quickly for any business sending automated calls at volume without proper consent.
The UK regulates automated calls through PECR, enforced by the Information Commissioner's Office, with its own consent requirements and exceptions that differ in detail from the US TCPA, though both require consent for most unsolicited automated marketing calls.
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