Those living in the United Kingdom (UK) can use The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) to block unwanted marketing and sales calls. Registration is free and the service is funded by the direct marketing industry. The TPS is only for residential numbers but there is a similar service for businesses, the Corporate Telephone Preference Service (CPTS).
The service has been considered a joke until 2012. While it is a requirement that companies do not call numbers on the TPS, the organization had no powers of enforcement. The Information Commissioner gained legal power to impose fines up to £500,000. Many companies however ignore the regulations as even after paying the fines they make a profit from cold calling. Prior to 2012 a survey found that people in the TPS list received twice as many phone calls as those not registered. Data that is more recent is still pending release.
There are a handful of other ‘do not call’ type lists in the UK however, the TPS is the only one enforced by law. While it is regulated by Ofcom and enforced by the Information Commissioners Office, it is run by the Direct Marketing Association and receives no funding from the government nor Ofcom. The TPS has a large fight against illegitimate lists. They maintain a list on their website of fraudulent organizations which attempt to charge for the TPS service, that is free.