On October 26, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published its revised Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) consent-revocation rules in the Federal Register.
September 2026 Consumer Litigation Filings: FCRA Climbs While Other Statutes Dip, But Everything Is Still Up for the Year
September 2026 consumer litigation filing statistics are in, and the picture is again a mixed one. Filings under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) rose, while filings under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and complaint volume with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) all declined. Even
Maryland Federal Court Denies TCPA Class Certification in Appointment Reminder Call Case
On September 21, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland denied class certification in a putative class action under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which restricts automated and prerecorded calls to cell phones. The opinion centered around prerecorded appointment reminder calls, offering a useful roadmap for defendants facing similar “robocall” class claims.
August 2026 Consumer Litigation Filings: Mixed Monthly Results, But Everything Up for the Year
Statistics for August 2026 consumer litigation filings are in, and the picture is a mixed one: some statutes rose while others fell. Nonetheless, one trend for 2026 is becoming unmistakable: filings remain up substantially across the board compared to the same period last year.
FCC Overhauls TCPA Revocation Rules Before They Even Take Effect
On September 9, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) (FCC-CIRC 2609-05) substantially revising the consent-revocation rules that were set to take effect January 31, 2027 under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The new rules take effect just 30 days after Federal Register publication, superseding that delayed date entirely, so businesses have far less runway than expected.
Pennsylvania Strengthens Telemarketing Protections
On July 20, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 992 (the Bill) into law, with an effective date of October 19, 2026. The amendments modernize the Telemarketer Registration Act (the Act) for the first time in almost three decades to address today’s technology, including robocalls, text messages, ringless voicemails, and AI-generated messaging and impose new compliance obligations on businesses that contact Pennsylvania consumers by phone or text. Significant changes are discussed below.
FTC Announces Increased Telemarketer Fees to Access the National Do Not Call Registry for FY 2027
On August 26, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced updated fees for telemarketers to access phone numbers listed on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry for Fiscal Year 2027, which begins October 1, 2026.
Background
All telemarketers calling consumers in the U.S. are required to download and cross-reference numbers listed on the National DNC
Are Text Messages Calls? Seventh Circuit’s Steidinger Decision Reshapes TCPA Litigation Landscape
In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, host Chris Willis is joined by colleagues Stefanie Jackman and Brian Hays to discuss the Seventh Circuit’s landmark July 2026 ruling in Steidinger v. Blackstone Medical Services, a unanimous decision holding that text messages do not qualify as “telephone calls” under § 227(c)(5) of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), eliminating a private right of action for National Do Not Call Registry violations based solely on text message communications.
Seventh Circuit Rules Text Messages Are Not “Telephone Calls” Under TCPA § 227(c)(5) — A Circuit Split Emerges
Background: The TCPA’s Private Right of Action for Unwanted Calls
Congress enacted the TCPA in 1991 to address the proliferation of unwanted telephone solicitations. The statute defines “telephone solicitation” as “the initiation of a telephone call or message for the purpose of encouraging the purchase or rental of, or investment in, property, goods, or services.” 47 U.S.C. § 227(a)(4) (emphasis added).
May 2026 Consumer Litigation Filings: All Major Statutes Down as April Trends Reverse
Statistics for May 2026 consumer litigation filings are in, and the picture is essentially the reverse of April. After all three major consumer protection statutes posted month-over-month increases in April, the first time that had happened in over a year, all three declined in May.