TPS and CTPS screening for AI calls
Before an AI agent rings a UK business, the number has to be checked against two registers, not one. Here is who is on each and how often to check.
This is not legal advice
This guide quotes the law and the regulators’ own pages and says where they are silent. It cannot tell you whether your campaign is lawful: that depends on who you call, where your list came from and what you say. For a decision that matters, ask a solicitor (UK) or an advogado (Portugal). Every source below was read on 4 October 2026; laws and guidance change, so check the date before you rely on it.
Two registers, one duty
| Register | Who registers | Source |
|---|---|---|
| TPS (Telephone Preference Service) | Individuals, sole traders and partnerships (except partnerships in Scotland) | tpsonline.org.uk |
| CTPS (Corporate TPS) | Limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, partnerships in Scotland, schools, hospitals and public bodies. Registration is renewed every year. | tpsonline.org.uk/register/corporate_tps |
The ICO’s B2B guidance is plain: “screen against both the CTPS and TPS registers, as well as your own ‘do not call’ list”. A restaurant run as a limited company sits on the CTPS; the plumber who trades as a sole trader sits on the TPS. A B2B list holds both.
How often to screen
The law gives a 28-day grace period: you are not in breach for calling a number that has been on the register for less than 28 days (PECR regulation 21(3)). TPS itself tells organisations to screen at least every 28 days. In practice, screen a list before each campaign and again if it is older than 28 days.
How screening works
Screening data comes under a licence from TPS (its corporate site lists prices “starting at £300”) or through a provider that holds one. You send your numbers, and the numbers on either register come back so you can leave them out. Keep the date of each check with the list.
What screening does not cover
- Your own do-not-call list: anyone who has told you not to call, whether or not they are on the TPS.
- Automated calls: regulation 19 needs prior consent whatever the TPS says (see the PECR guide).
- Non-UK numbers: TPS and CTPS are UK registers. Portugal has its own rules (see the Portugal guide).
In FoxEra Calls
On any uploaded file you can press Check against TPS & CTPS (a paid extra, 1.4p per UK number, unlocked after your first top-up; non-UK numbers are skipped free). UK numbers in that file are held from calling until the check is complete, registered numbers are kept out of every campaign, and checks older than 28 days are repeated before dialling. A “don’t call me” on a call, a STOP reply or link in a text, and the unsubscribe link in an email all opt the person out; an emailed request to stop is flagged for you to act on.
Sources (read 4 October 2026)
- PECR 2003, regulation 21 (live calls) (read 4 October 2026)
- ICO: business-to-business marketing (read 4 October 2026)
- TPS: Corporate TPS registration (read 4 October 2026)
- TPS: corporate services and screening licences (read 4 October 2026)
- PECR 2003, Schedule 1 (penalties, as amended) (read 4 October 2026)
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to screen B2B numbers against the TPS?
Yes. Sole traders and most partnerships register with the TPS, companies with the CTPS. The ICO says to screen B2B lists against both, plus your own do-not-call list.
How often should I screen my calling list?
The law gives a 28-day grace period after a number registers, and TPS asks organisations to screen at least every 28 days. Screen before each campaign.
Does TPS screening make automated calls legal?
No. Automated calls under PECR regulation 19 need prior consent, whether or not the number is registered.