PECR applies to calls into the UK
The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations cover marketing calls to UK numbers wherever the caller is based. The UK company you are calling for is responsible too, so expect clients to check your process.
Screen against TPS and CTPS
Don't make live marketing calls to numbers on the Telephone Preference Service or Corporate TPS unless the person has told you directly they are happy to receive your calls. Screen before you dial and again if the data is more than 28 days old. Every DataMembership record is screened before delivery.
Show a caller ID people can call back
Marketing calls must display a number. A UK number the person can call back to opt out is best practice, and it improves answer rates.
Abandoned and silent calls
Ofcom's rules on persistent misuse limit abandoned calls from predictive diallers (no more than 3% of live-answered calls per campaign over 24 hours), require a short information message when a call is abandoned, and stop you calling the same abandoned number again the same day without a live agent. Tune your dialler pacing to stay within them.
Say who you are and honour opt-outs
Name the company you are calling for, tell people where you got their details if they ask, and add anyone who says no to your suppression list immediately — then upload it to your DataMembership account so they are removed from future deliveries.
Questions
Who enforces these rules?
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) enforces PECR, and Ofcom enforces the rules on abandoned and silent calls.
Can we buy UK data from outside the UK?
Yes. DataMembership is ordered online and paid by card — see UK data for call centers.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For the full rules see the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk). Last updated October 2026.
