TL;DR: The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is the UK's free opt-out list for live sales calls, covering landlines and mobiles. Register at tpsonline.org.uk or on 0345 070 0707; Ofcom says calls may take up to 28 days to drop. The Mailing Preference Service (MPS) does the same for addressed junk mail and can take up to three months. Neither stops scammers. Report persistent marketing calls to the ICO and forward spam texts to 7726.
The Telephone Preference Service (TPS)
The TPS is the official register of people who don't want unsolicited sales calls. According to Ofcom:
- It is free and covers both home phones and mobiles.
- Register at tpsonline.org.uk or by calling 0345 070 0707.
- Calls may take up to 28 days to reduce after you sign up.
- “Legitimate marketers must check the register before calling,” and shouldn't call registered numbers unless you've agreed to it.
- Business numbers go on a separate Corporate TPS (CTPS).
Watch out for companies that cold-call offering to “register you with the TPS” for a fee. The real service is free.
The Mailing Preference Service (MPS)
The MPS is the postal version. It is free and cuts unsolicited addressed marketing mail, because companies that license it clean their mailing lists against it. It can take up to three months to take full effect, and it doesn't cover overseas mail, unaddressed leaflets or post addressed to “The Occupier.”
A related step is opting out of the open electoral register, which anyone can buy. Our UK, Canada and Australia data broker guide explains that and how to get off 192.com.
What these services don't stop
- Scam calls. Criminals don't check the TPS. If a caller claims to be your bank or the police and wants money moved, hang up. Our story on why Brits stay on scam calls to be polite has the Take Five advice.
- Calls you agreed to. Ticking a marketing box on a form can override the TPS for that company.
- Texts and emails. Forward spam texts free to 7726. For emails, see our guide to blocking spam emails.
How to complain
If marketing calls continue after 28 days, report them to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint or on 0303 123 1113. Note the date, time, number and company name. You can also make a subject access request to find out where a persistent caller got your details.
Same idea, other countries
See our guides to the US Do Not Call Registry, Canada's DNCL and Australia's Do Not Call Register.
Cold callers and scammers usually get your number from leaked or sold data. A free email exposure check shows whether your email is in known breaches, and the full Scan My Shadow scan adds your phone number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Telephone Preference Service free?
Yes. Ofcom says registering with the TPS is free. Anyone charging you to register is not the real service.
Does TPS work for mobile phones?
Yes. The TPS covers both home phones and mobiles.
How long does TPS take to work?
Ofcom says calls may take up to 28 days to reduce after registering.
What does the Mailing Preference Service stop?
Unsolicited addressed marketing mail. It doesn’t cover unaddressed leaflets, mail to The Occupier or overseas mail, and can take up to three months to take full effect.
Where do I report nuisance calls in the UK?
Report to the ICO at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint or 0303 123 1113, and forward spam texts to 7726.
Sources
- Ofcom: Unwanted calls, texts and emails
- Mailing Preference Service
- Telephone Preference Service
- ICO: Make a complaint