Stopping Robocalls in Florida
I keep getting robocalls — here's what Florida law says and what to do next.
Statute: Fla. Stat. § 501.059 (Florida Telephone Solicitation Act — mini-TCPA)
Deadline: 1460 days
Penalty: violations carry $500 per violation ($1,500 for willful violations) under Florida's mini-TCPA, which mirrors federal TCPA damages. Florida imposes stricter calling hours (8 AM to 8 PM, not 9 PM), a 3-call limit per 24-hour period, and a broader autodialer definition than the federal TCPA
What is stopping robocalls?
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is the primary federal law protecting you from unwanted robocalls, spam texts, and telemarketing calls. Under the TCPA, companies generally cannot call or text you using an autodialer or prerecorded voice without your prior express consent.
You have the right to put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry, which blocks most telemarketing calls. Violators face penalties of $500 to $1,500 per illegal call or text — and you can sue them directly in federal court.
What to Do If You Keep Getting Robocalls and Spam Calls
Step 1: Register your number on the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222. Registration is free and permanent.
Step 2: When you receive an unwanted call, do not press any buttons or engage with the caller. Hang up. Pressing buttons to "opt out" may confirm your number is active and lead to more calls.
Step 3: Document every unwanted call or text. Note the date, time, phone number displayed, company name (if given), and whether a prerecorded message was used. Screenshot spam texts.
Step 4: File complaints with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and with the FCC at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov. Complaints help regulators identify and shut down major violators.
Step 5: Consider suing under the TCPA. You can recover $500 per violation ($1,500 for willful violations) in federal court. Many TCPA attorneys work on contingency. For a pattern of calls, damages add up quickly.
How Florida differs from federal law
Florida has one of the strongest state-level anti-robocall statutes in the country:
- Florida Telephone Solicitation Act (Fla. Stat. § 501.059): Restricts automated telephone calls, text messages, and prerecorded messages to residential and cellular telephone numbers. Requires prior express written consent for marketing calls.
- Florida Do Not Call List: Florida maintains its own state Do Not Call list in addition to the federal National Do Not Call Registry. Telemarketers must scrub both lists.
- Penalties: Willful violations carry penalties of up to $10,000 per call. The FL Attorney General actively enforces the statute and has pursued major enforcement actions against robocallers.
- Private right of action: Florida consumers can bring private lawsuits for violations. Consumers may recover $500 per violation, trebled to $1,500 for knowing or willful violations.
- Caller ID spoofing: Florida law prohibits transmitting misleading caller ID information with intent to defraud (Fla. Stat. § 817.487), supplementing the federal Truth in Caller ID Act.
Additional steps in Florida
Register on both the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov and the Florida Do Not Call list. File complaints with the Florida AG at myfloridalegal.com or call (866) 966-7226. File FTC complaints at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Consider a private lawsuit for repeated violations.
What you should NOT do
Don't engage with suspicious callers. Don't confirm your name, press buttons, or say "yes" to unknown callers. Scammers may record your voice or use your responses to authorize fraudulent charges.
Don't give out your number unnecessarily. Every online form, loyalty program, and contest entry is a potential source of telemarketing calls. Read the fine print on consent disclosures.
Don't assume "spoofed" numbers mean you can't take action. Even if the caller ID is fake, the TCPA violation still occurred. Regulators and attorneys can trace the actual caller through subpoenas to phone carriers.
Don't pay for robocall blocking services when free options exist. Most major carriers offer free call-blocking tools (T-Mobile Scam Shield, AT&T Call Protect, Verizon Call Filter). Your phone's built-in settings can also silence unknown callers.
You shouldn't have to hire a lawyer to assert your rights.
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Generate your tcpa complaint →This page is general legal information for Florida, not legal advice for your specific situation. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on facts we don't know. For advice on your matter, consult a licensed attorney in Florida.