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What Patchline does for UK calling rules, and what's still on you.

UK business calling is covered mainly by PECR (including the TPS and CTPS), UK GDPR and Ofcom's rules on silent and abandoned calls. Patchline gives you tools for each. It doesn't make anyone compliant on its own, and we won't pretend it does.

UK calling checks Illustration of the checks made before a call: TPS and CTPS screening, calling hours, consent and opt-outs, and Ofcom auto-dial limits. CHECKED BEFORE EVERY DIAL TPS / CTPS HOURS CONSENT OFCOM 3%

What the software does

Checks before the phone rings, records after

TPS / CTPS screening

Each ready-to-call UK lead is checked against the Telephone Preference Service (people, including sole traders and most partnerships) and the Corporate TPS (companies). Screening can be automatic through a TPS checking service, or by uploading a screened file. In Block mode the dialer won't ring a listed number, or one not screened in the last 28 days, unless you've recorded that the person agreed to be called. Screening starts switched off until you choose Warn or Block, and the checking service is paid separately.

Calling hours

You set the hours and days you call, in the lead's own local time. Outside them nothing rings: auto-dial skips the lead and the server refuses the call. A lead whose time zone can't be worked out is only rung after you confirm.

Consent and opt-out records

Each lead records why you may contact it (legitimate interest, consent or opted out), when and how that changed, with history kept. Opted-out numbers can't be called or texted, across every lead with that number. Texts can only be started from a lead's page, with a reminder to text only people who've agreed.

Do-not-call list

A Do Not Call result puts the number on your do-not-call list and the business's details are deleted for good after 30 days. Anyone who rings your number back hears your company name and can press 1 to never be called again; that's logged automatically.

Ofcom auto-dial guard rails

Auto-dial rings one lead at a time, only while a rep is at the screen with a working microphone, and connects the business the moment they answer. If the rep's line drops as they answer, they hear a short information message instead of silence. Auto-dial pauses itself if abandoned calls go over 3% of answered calls in 24 hours, won't redial an abandoned number for 72 hours, rings for at least 15 seconds, and won't start until your company name is set. These rules are always on.

Caller ID

Every call shows one of your own UK numbers. Premium-rate and other non-basic-rate numbers are never used.

Records and audit log

Every call is kept with when it was answered and whether it was abandoned (and why), with a daily abandoned-call report. The audit log records logins, exports, data requests and settings changes. Roles and two-factor login limit who can do what.

Data requests (GDPR)

Managers can export everything held about a business, or erase it, from the lead's page.

What stays with you

Your responsibility as the caller

You decide who to call and how. Under our terms, you remain responsible for your own calling and marketing.

  • Deciding who you may call and on what lawful basis, and keeping your legitimate-interest assessment.
  • Turning TPS/CTPS screening on (Warn or Block), paying for the screening service, and keeping screening up to date.
  • Setting sensible calling hours, and what your reps say on the call, including identifying your company.
  • Getting consent before texting or emailing individuals and sole traders where the law requires it, and honouring opt-outs.
  • Telling people about call recording and AI notes, and your own privacy notice.
  • Training your team, and not working around the guard rails (for example, hanging up as someone answers).
  • Lists you upload yourself, and any calls made outside the software.
  • Taking legal advice if you're unsure. We can't give it and nothing here is legal advice.

What we give you at setup

A head start, not a legal opinion

A calling-rules checklist

A plain-English PECR checklist for your team, handed over at setup.

Screening switched on

We help connect TPS/CTPS screening and set Block mode before your first UK call.

Data processing agreement

We process your lead data on your behalf under a written DPA alongside our terms.

Official sources: the ICO's guidance on direct marketing and PECR, the TPS, and Ofcom's persistent misuse policy.