Under the TCPA, a person can recover $500 per violating call or text, and a court may triple it for willful violations
Verified Confidence: high
Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.
- Commonly cited as
- "TCPA fines are $500 to $1,500 per text"
- True origin
- U.S. Congress (47 U.S.C. § 227, via Cornell LII) — 47 U.S. Code § 227 – Restrictions on use of telephone equipment
- Type
- Reference fact: A frequently needed number or rule taken directly from a primary source (e.g. Pew, Census, IAB/PwC, FTC), with its as-of date.
- Year
- 2026
- Data as of
- Statute text as published by Cornell LII, checked Oct. 16, 2026
- Last checked
- What the source says
an action to recover for actual monetary loss from such a violation, or to receive $500 in damages for each such violation, whichever is greater, or (C) both such actions. If the court finds that the defendant willfully or knowingly violated this subsection or the regulations prescribed under this subsection, the court may, in its discretion, in
- Method & sample
- Statute text. The treble-damages clause lets a court raise the award to up to three times the amount ($1,500) for willful or knowing violations.
- Drift between quote and source
- '$1,500 per text' is the maximum for willful violations at the court's discretion, not automatic
- Interest
- n/a (statute or regulation).
Safe rephrasing
The TCPA lets people sue for $500 per violating call or text (or actual loss, if greater); a court may raise it up to three times for willful or knowing violations.
Sources we opened
- 47 U.S.C. § 227 (Cornell LII) (primary)
Machine-readable: /api/claims/tcpa-500-per-violation-treble-if-willful.json · Last checked 2026-10-16