TCPA Advocacy Center

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) has a significant impact on the ability of debt collectors to lawfully contact consumers. Given the importance of effective communication to successful debt recovery, ACA International continues to lead the effort to modernize the TCPA to better balance consumer privacy with legitimate business communications.

The TCPA restricts the use of automatic telephone dialing systems (ATDS or autodialers), artificial or prerecorded voice messages, text messages received by cell phones, and the use of fax machines to send unsolicited advertisements. It also specifies several technical requirements for fax machines, autodialers, and voice messaging systems.

Although Congress enacted the TCPA primarily to regulate the activities of telemarketers and the delivery of telephone solicitations and unsolicited advertisements, certain important provisions of the statute and its regulations extend to all persons and entities, including debt collectors.