Suing over spam calls without a lawyer costs $30 in California small claims court for one $500 claim. The same case costs $405 upfront in federal district court.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act is the federal law that limits many robocalls and spam texts. It lets consumers sue violators directly, even without hiring a lawyer. Your filing fee depends on where you sue and how much you claim.
Table of Contents
- What can you win for each illegal call?
- How much does small claims court cost?
- What does federal court cost without a lawyer?
- What other costs decide whether to file?
What can you win for each illegal call?
The law allows actual loss or $500 per violation, whichever is greater. Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute publishes the text of 47 U.S.C. § 227 with that rule.
Three illegal calls could therefore mean $1,500 in statutory damages. A court can raise the award to $1,500 per violation for willful or knowing conduct. That increase depends on proof about the caller's behavior. You still must identify the caller and prove each call happened.
How much does small claims court cost?
In California small claims court, filing fees rise with the claim size. The Superior Court of California in Riverside County explains the tiers in how to file small claims.
Fees are $30 up to $1,500, $50 for $1,501 to $5,000, and $75 for $5,001 to $12,500. One $500 violation costs $30 to file. Five violations at $500 each total $2,500 and cost $50 to file.
What does federal court cost without a lawyer?
Filing a civil action in U.S. district court costs $405. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas lists the breakdown in its fee and payment schedule.
It includes a $350 statutory fee plus a $55 administrative fee. A February 11, 2025 guide from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee says the full fee is due at filing. A plaintiff can seek a waiver to proceed without prepaying, but the court must grant it. Federal courts also allow filing without an attorney, but the Southern District of Iowa notes the plaintiff still must pay the fee and serve each defendant.
What other costs decide whether to file?
The filing fee does not cover everything. You must find the real caller behind the number, serve court papers correctly, and prove each violation with records. An FCC unwanted-call complaint is free, but it is not a lawsuit.
The Federal Communications Commission explains in its unwanted calls help article that it does not resolve individual complaints and pays consumers nothing. Practically, expect tens of dollars plus service and evidence costs in small claims versus $405 upfront in federal court. Sue where the evidence is strongest and the defendant can be found and served.
- Service-of-process fee for each defendant
- Printing, postage, and travel to the hearing
- Phone records, screenshots, and evidence copies