Stopping sales calls and spam texts in Spain

Key rules

• Consent: Companies need your prior consent before making sales calls to you.
• Lista Robinson: Registration is free, and it can take a couple of months to work.
• Prefixes: Legitimate commercial calls use the 400 and 500 prefixes.
• Complaints: Complain to the AEPD about unsolicited calls or texts.

Start with the Lista Robinson

Register your phone number, email and postal address on the Lista Robinson. It is free and you do it online. You give your details and confirm them. Companies that advertise using sector-wide lists must check it before contacting you. Allow a couple of months for it to take effect.

It has limits. It does not stop companies where you are already a customer or have given consent. It also does not stop scammers or firms that ignore the rules.

What companies may and may not do

Commercial calls need your prior consent. Since 2022 Spain has used an opt-in system, so a company cannot cold-call you with a sales offer. Calls to people on the Lista Robinson are also barred. The exception is calls linked to a contract you already have.

Legitimate commercial callers must use a number you can identify and call back. Dedicated prefixes exist for commercial calls: 400 and 500. Operators block calls using these numbers if they come from outside Spain or are spoofed. Calls from abroad may fall outside Spanish rules.

A call from a normal mobile number or an unknown foreign number selling something is a warning sign.

Block what still gets through

• Block each unwanted number on your phone.
• Turn on call filtering for unknown callers. On iPhone, use Silence Unknown Callers. On Android, use the spam call filter.
• Ask your operator for its free spam-call alerts or blocking. Most major operators offer something, and some have an app.
• Forward suspicious texts to your operator's reporting number, if it has one.

Report problems

If a company keeps calling or texting without consent, complain to the AEPD, Spain's data-protection agency, through its online complaint channel. The AEPD enforces consent breaches, and fines can be large.

Report telecoms fraud to the Oficina de Atención al Usuario de Telecomunicaciones. Report phishing or scams to the Policía Nacional or the Guardia Civil.

The checklist below walks you through the steps in order.

What to watch out for

• The Lista Robinson does not stop everything: The list does not stop calls from companies where you are already a customer or have given consent. It also does not stop scammers or firms that ignore the rules. Block those numbers on your phone, and withdraw your consent with the company directly.

• Scam calls and texts: Registering does not protect you from phishing or fraud calls and texts, and replying or clicking links can cost you money. Do not click links or share codes.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Lista Robinson stop all sales calls?

No, the Lista Robinson does not stop all sales calls, because it only covers companies that must check it. It does not stop calls from firms where you are already a customer or have given consent, nor scams. Registration can take a couple of months to take effect.

Can a company call me with a sales offer without my permission?

No, a company needs your prior consent before making a commercial call, unless the call relates to an existing contract with you. Calls to people on the Lista Robinson are also barred. If a firm ignores this, you can complain to the AEPD.

Which phone prefixes are used for commercial calls?

Commercial calls must use numbers starting with 400 or 500, which became mandatory in 2023. Operators block calls on these numbers if they come from outside Spain or are spoofed. A sales call from an ordinary mobile number is a sign the caller is not following the rules.