Is repeated unwanted calling illegal in the USA?

Yes. Repeated harassing phone calls or text messages violate the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (47 U.S.C. §227) and every state's telephone-harassment statute. Many states treat it as a misdemeanor after a single documented pattern.

How many calls or texts qualify as harassment?

Courts look at pattern rather than a fixed count. Two or more unwanted contacts after a clear request to stop is enough for most state harassment statutes and to trigger TCPA statutory damages of $500 to $1,500 per call or text.

Do I need to block them first?

No. Blocking is optional. What matters legally is that you told them to stop (in writing when possible) and that the contact continued afterward. Our letter creates that documented notice.

What evidence should I preserve?

Full call logs with date, time, and number; screenshots of every text thread; voicemail recordings saved to a second device; and any witnesses who heard the calls. Do not delete anything, even blocked contacts.

Can I recover money for phone harassment?

Yes. Under the TCPA you can recover $500 per unsolicited call or text ($1,500 if willful), plus any actual damages (missed work, therapy, changed number costs). State harassment statutes add per-incident penalties in California, New York, Illinois, and Texas.

What if the calls come from a spoofed number?

Spoofing is itself illegal under the Truth in Caller ID Act. File an FCC complaint at fcc.gov/complaints and preserve every log. Our letter still goes to the underlying person or business once identified through subpoena or reverse-lookup.

Letter type

Phone Harassment Cease and Desist Letter

A professionally drafted demand that puts an unwanted caller or texter on formal notice, cites the TCPA and your state statute, and preserves your right to recover $500 to $1,500 per contact.

For U.S. residentsMade in USA

Written and reviewed by the StopAndDesist Legal Content TeamLast reviewed: August 2026Editorial standards

Primary sources:Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §1692Consumer Financial Protection BureauFederal Trade Commission

StopAndDesist is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is general information about your rights.

When to use it

Repeated unwanted calls, voicemails, or text messages from an ex-partner, a former friend, a business, or an unknown number after you asked them to stop.

What the letter contains

Formal identification of every logged contact, citation to the federal TCPA and your state's telephone harassment statute, a written demand that all contact cease immediately, and a clear warning about statutory damages and criminal referral.

How to deliver it

USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt is the gold standard. Where you have a verified email or number, send in parallel so the recipient cannot claim they never received it.

Next steps

Continue logging every contact after delivery. Post-notice contacts are the strongest evidence for TCPA damages, an FCC complaint, and any state-court harassment charge.

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StopAndDesist provides self-help templates and is not a law firm. This page is information, not legal advice.