How much does a TCPA defence lawyer cost, and how does that compare to the demand?
A demand letter asks for a figure. The alternative is not free: it is the cost of counsel, which is paid whether or not you win. Here are realistic ranges so you can put both numbers on the same page.
Three cost tiers
| Stage | What it involves | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Consult and respond | Lawyer reviews the letter and your records, advises on consent and vendor position, drafts a response or negotiates the figure. | Hundreds to low thousands of dollars. |
| Single-plaintiff suit | Answer, motion practice, written discovery, dialer and consent production, mediation. | Tens of thousands of dollars if it runs past the pleadings. |
| Class action | Full discovery of the calling programme, dialing-system expert reports, class certification briefing, settlement administration. | Hundreds of thousands in defence costs alone; settlements measured against the class. |
These are ranges, not quotes. Hourly rates for TCPA defence counsel are typically in the mid hundreds of dollars per hour and up. Ask for an estimate per stage before engaging.
Why the demand is often the lowest number
A demand-stage figure for a handful of calls is frequently below the cost of having a lawyer fight it, and far below the cost of a filed case. That is not a trick. It is the economics the statute creates: $500 to $1,500 per call is small enough to resolve and large enough that nobody wants to litigate it one call at a time. Both sides save money by closing at the demand stage. See should I settle.
When counsel is clearly worth it
- The letter is one of several, or the campaign reached many people. Class exposure changes everything and needs a lawyer from day one.
- You hold consent records and a vendor contract and want them used properly. A well-documented dispute is where counsel earns their fee.
- The figure is large relative to the business, or the sender is a law firm that has already filed.
- An officer is named personally.
When a consultation is enough
A single letter listing a few calls, where your own records show the calls happened and the consent file is thin, is a matter you can resolve yourself with one hour of advice to check the release. Paying for a full defence to arrive at the same resolution is money the business does not get back.
Finding counsel
Search for "TCPA defense" with your state. Ask whether the lawyer has handled demand-stage matters, not only class defence, and ask for an estimate per stage. State bar referral services and your business insurer's panel, if you have cyber or media coverage, are other routes. Remember that most general liability policies exclude TCPA claims, so the fee is usually yours.
Quick answers
How much does it cost to respond to a TCPA demand letter with a lawyer?
A consultation and a response letter from a lawyer who handles TCPA defence commonly runs from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on the firm and how much record review is needed. Negotiating a resolution on your behalf adds hours at the lawyer's rate.
How much does a TCPA lawsuit cost to defend?
A single-plaintiff case taken through a motion to dismiss and early discovery is commonly tens of thousands of dollars. A case that proceeds to full discovery, expert evidence on the dialing system and class certification is routinely in the hundreds of thousands, before any judgment or settlement.
Can I recover my legal fees if I win?
Generally no. The TCPA has no fee-shifting provision for a prevailing defendant. Your defence costs are yours whatever the outcome.