Cold calls about accidents you never had, "free" boiler upgrades and mis-sold this-or-that are more than an annoyance - they interrupt your day and wear down your guard against genuine scams. While no single step stops them all, a handful of measures together make a real difference. This guide explains what actually works to cut nuisance and cold calls in the UK.

Start with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS)

The TPS is the UK's official "do not call" register for live marketing calls, and it's free. Once your landline or mobile number has been registered for a short settling-in period, legitimate UK businesses are legally required not to make unsolicited sales and marketing calls to it. You can register a number directly with the TPS; there's no need to pay any third party that offers to "register" you for a fee.

The TPS won't stop scammers (who ignore the law anyway) or calls from overseas, but it meaningfully reduces calls from law-abiding UK marketers - which are a big chunk of the nuisance for most people.

A lot of "nuisance" marketing is technically allowed because, somewhere, you ticked (or didn't untick) a box agreeing to be contacted. To cut this off:

  • Check boxes carefully when entering competitions, comparison sites or sign-ups.
  • Withdraw consent by asking a company to stop calling - they must comply.
  • Be cautious with "free" prize draws and surveys, which often exist to harvest marketing consent.

Screen and block the rest

For callers who ignore the rules, your phone does the heavy lifting:

  • Silence unknown callers so anyone not in your contacts goes to voicemail (see how to block unwanted calls).
  • Block persistent numbers individually.
  • Use network and handset call-blocking on landlines.
  • Don't engage - the less you interact, the less your number is flagged as "answered" and sold on. This also helps with silent and abandoned calls from predictive diallers.

Report nuisance calls to the ICO

Reporting matters more than people think. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) enforces the rules on unsolicited marketing calls and texts, and it relies on public reports to identify and fine persistent offenders. If a UK company keeps cold-calling you - especially after you've registered with the TPS or asked them to stop - report it to the ICO with the date, time and any company name.

For scam calls (as opposed to pushy-but-legal marketing), report to Action Fraud and forward to 7726 instead - the ICO handles marketing, not fraud.

A quick action plan

  1. Register your numbers with the TPS (free).
  2. Turn on call screening for unknown callers on your phone.
  3. Block repeat offenders and use landline call-blocking features.
  4. Mind your consent - untick marketing boxes and ask firms to stop.
  5. Report rule-breaking marketers to the ICO, and scams to Action Fraud / 7726.

The bottom line

You can't switch nuisance calls off entirely, but you can shrink them dramatically. Register with the TPS, screen unknown callers, block the persistent ones, guard your marketing consent, and report companies that flout the rules to the ICO. Each step closes another door, and together they give you back a much quieter, safer phone.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Telephone Preference Service actually work?

Yes, for legitimate UK marketers. Once registered, law-abiding companies must not make unsolicited sales calls to your number, which removes a large share of nuisance calls. It won't stop scammers or overseas callers, so pair it with screening, blocking and reporting.

Is it free to register with the TPS?

Yes. Registering with the Telephone Preference Service is free - you can do it directly for a landline or mobile. Avoid any third party that charges a fee to "register" you, as it's unnecessary.

Who do I report nuisance marketing calls to?

Report unwanted UK marketing calls and texts to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which enforces the rules and uses reports to fine offenders. Report outright scam calls to Action Fraud and forward them to 7726 instead.

Why do I still get cold calls after registering with the TPS?

The TPS only binds legitimate UK companies. Scammers ignore the law, overseas callers fall outside it, and some calls rely on "consent" you gave by ticking a box. Use call screening and blocking for these, withdraw consent where you can, and report persistent offenders.