FCC Consumer Complaints – 30 January 2020
Introduction
On 30 January 2020, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1030 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented an increase from the 998 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 50 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 686 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1030
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (686)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (109)
Where the complaints came from
The 1030 complaints recorded on 30 January 2020 originated from 704 cities across 50 states and territories. Complaint reports were spread across multiple states and territories, without any one location accounting for a large share. 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 109 | 10.6% |
| Florida | 79 | 7.7% |
| Texas | 68 | 6.6% |
| New York | 50 | 4.9% |
| Ohio | 48 | 4.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 48 | 4.7% |
| Michigan | 39 | 3.8% |
| Illinois | 37 | 3.6% |
| Virginia | 37 | 3.6% |
| Colorado | 33 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 482 | 46.8% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 821 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 821 | 79.7% |
| Internet | 108 | 10.5% |
| TV | 91 | 8.8% |
| Radio | 7 | 0.7% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.2% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
821 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 79.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 686 | 83.6% |
| Billing | 62 | 7.6% |
| Equipment | 24 | 2.9% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 14 | 1.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 10 | 1.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 0.7% |
| Privacy | 6 | 0.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 5 | 0.6% |
| 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. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Equipment and Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) among the most common.
Internet complaints
108 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 45 | 41.7% |
| Availability | 42 | 38.9% |
| Speed | 9 | 8.3% |
| Equipment | 6 | 5.6% |
| Interference | 4 | 3.7% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.9% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
91 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 43 | 47.3% |
| Availability | 31 | 34.1% |
| Equipment | 8 | 8.8% |
| Loud Commercials | 5 | 5.5% |
| Indecency | 4 | 4.4% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
There were 686 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 66.6% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact number details are listed below where there is enough concentration to make the data meaningful.
Most reported caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (800) 275-2273 | 6 | 0.9% |
| (800) 266-2278 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (202) 918-3546 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (312) 982-0120 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (412) 314-8293 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (682) 301-3453 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (800) 403-3991 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (816) 654-6448 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (909) 729-0596 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (201) 331-5553 | 1 | 0.1% |
Key patterns
- Live Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
- (800) 275-2273 stood out as the most frequently reported caller ID number.
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.