Guidelines for FCC Complaints

If you received an unsolicited prerecorded commercial telemarketing call at your home, your letter to the FCC should state that

  • you received the call in the privacy of your home on your residential phone line.
  • the call was prerecorded.
  • the call was a commercial advertisement or solicitation in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
  • you have no established business relationship with the caller, and that you never consented to receive pre-recorded calls.

    • You should provide as much information as possible to help identify the caller such as name, address, callback number, who the call was on behalf of, and the product or service offered or advertised. You must also provide the date and time (the more specific, the better), as well as Caller ID or *69 information on the caller's number if you have it.

    Your letter need not be lengthy; a one-pager containing the above is quite adequate. You can mail (or fax) your letter to

    Delores Browder
    Enforcement Bureau
    Federal Communications Commission
    445 Twelfth St. SW
    Washington, DC 20554

    Fax: (202) 418-6533

    Sample Complaint Letter

    BY FACSIMILE
    TO (202) 418-6533
    Delores Browder
    Enforcement Bureau, Room 3A622
    Federal Communications Commission
    445 Twelfth St. SW
    Washington, DC 20554

    Re: Unsolicited Pre-Recorded Telemarketing Call to Residence in Violation of the TCPA

    Dear Ms. Browder:

    I am writing to register a complaint concerning a violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA) by [COMPANY NAME].

    Specifically, on [DATE] at approximately [TIME] local time, I received a pre-recorded commercial telemarketing solicitation on my home telephone, [PHONE NUMBER]. The caller identified himself/herself as [NAME], and stated that he/she was calling on behalf of [COMPANY NAME AND ADDRESS] regarding [SUBJECT OF SALES PITCH, OFFER, OR ADVERTISEMENT]. The message provided a callback number of [CALLBACK NUMBER], and my Caller ID unit listed the caller's number as [CALLING NUMBER].

    Neither I nor anyone else in my household has an established business relationship with [COMPANY]. In addition, no member of my household has given consent (express or implied) to receive such pre-recorded commercial solicitations.

    Please take remedial action against [COMPANY] (and, if applicable, the service bureau placing the call on their behalf). I would appreciate your informing me by letter of any enforcement actions initiated as a result of this complaint.

    Sincerely,


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