FCC Consumer Complaints – 23 January 2020
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 1113 consumer complaints on Thursday, 23 January 2020 relating to telecommunications services, this was higher than the 1072 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 49 states and territories, with Texas recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 801 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1113
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (801)
- Most reported state/territory
- Texas (123)
Where the complaints came from
Across 697 cities in 49 states and territories, a total of 1113 complaints were recorded on 23 January 2020. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 123 | 11.1% |
| California | 115 | 10.3% |
| Florida | 83 | 7.5% |
| New York | 56 | 5.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 56 | 5.0% |
| Arizona | 49 | 4.4% |
| Ohio | 49 | 4.4% |
| Illinois | 39 | 3.5% |
| Virginia | 36 | 3.2% |
| Maryland | 33 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 474 | 42.6% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 5 complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 947 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 947 | 85.1% |
| Internet | 77 | 6.9% |
| TV | 70 | 6.3% |
| Radio | 16 | 1.4% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.3% |
Phone complaints
947 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 85.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 801 | 84.6% |
| Billing | 56 | 5.9% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 28 | 3.0% |
| Equipment | 18 | 1.9% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 16 | 1.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 13 | 1.4% |
| Privacy | 7 | 0.7% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 4 | 0.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 3 | 0.3% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.1% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
77 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 33 | 42.9% |
| Billing | 31 | 40.3% |
| Speed | 6 | 7.8% |
| Interference | 5 | 6.5% |
| Equipment | 1 | 1.3% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.3% |
Availability and Billing were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
TV complaints
70 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 37 | 52.9% |
| Availability | 16 | 22.9% |
| Loud Commercials | 7 | 10.0% |
| Equipment | 5 | 7.1% |
| Indecency | 4 | 5.7% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.4% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
801 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 72% of all complaints. Reports referenced both caller ID numbers and business contact numbers, with number tables shown where meaningful patterns are present.
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (800) 423-5656 | 6 | 0.7% |
| (800) 692-7753 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (208) 262-0000 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (316) 444-1810 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (623) 208-5177 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (312) 777-4200 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (352) 251-0285 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (442) 242-9630 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (469) 828-2114 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (520) 226-4407 | 2 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (800) 423-5656 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- Reports were spread across many different caller ID numbers, with no single number dominating.
The information presented on this page is based on consumer complaint data submitted to regulatory authorities. References to telephone numbers reflect reports made by consumers and do not confirm ownership, authenticity, or that the number was genuinely associated with the call. Caller ID information may be inaccurate or subject to spoofing.
Complaint categories, dates and complainant locations are based on the source records and may contain incomplete, approximate or user-entered information. Location details refer to the complainant’s reported location, not the location of the caller or telephone number. This content is provided for informational purposes only.