FCC Consumer Complaints – 12 February 2020

Introduction

A total of 1010 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 12 February 2020, this represented a decline from the 1093 complaints recorded the day before. Complaints were reported across 51 states and territories, with Texas slightly ahead of the other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 592 complaints.

Key statistics

Total complaints
1010
States & territories reporting
51
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (592)
Most reported state/territory
Texas (109)

Where the complaints came from

The 1010 complaints recorded on 12 February 2020 were submitted from 710 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. 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 109 10.8%
California 105 10.4%
Florida 79 7.8%
New York 56 5.5%
Virginia 55 5.4%
Pennsylvania 44 4.4%
North Carolina 40 4.0%
Illinois 37 3.7%
Ohio 36 3.6%
Michigan 33 3.3%
Other states and territories 416 41.2%

What the complaints were about

Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 741 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 741 73.4%
Internet 135 13.4%
TV 125 12.4%
Radio 6 0.6%
Emergency 2 0.2%
Accessibility 1 0.1%

Phone complaints

741 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 73.4% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 592 79.9%
Billing 62 8.4%
Equipment 21 2.8%
Availability (including rural call completion) 16 2.2%
Junk Faxes 14 1.9%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 12 1.6%
Privacy 12 1.6%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 8 1.1%
Interference (including signal jammers) 4 0.5%

As is typical for this category, unwanted calls accounted for the largest share of complaints. A more detailed analysis of these reports is provided in the section below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).

Internet complaints

135 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.4% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 62 45.9%
Availability 45 33.3%
Speed 17 12.6%
Interference 5 3.7%
Privacy 5 3.7%
Equipment 1 0.7%

Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.

TV complaints

125 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.4% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 57 45.6%
Availability 41 32.8%
Indecency 14 11.2%
Loud Commercials 6 4.8%
Equipment 5 4.0%
Interference 2 1.6%

Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.

Unwanted calls

A total of 592 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 58.6% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact numbers are shown below where sufficient data is available.

Most reported business contact numbers

Telephone number Complaints Share
(208) 262-0000 9 1.5%
(202) 931-3224 2 0.3%
(301) 634-0880 2 0.3%
(585) 563-9568 2 0.3%
(844) 649-4630 2 0.3%
(888) 231-5805 2 0.3%
(888) 339-2365 2 0.3%
(202) 668-8749 1 0.2%
(202) 865-1855 1 0.2%
(206) 407-3602 1 0.2%

Key patterns

  • Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
  • (208) 262-0000 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
  • Reports were spread across many different caller ID numbers, with no single number dominating.
Page last updated: 13 February 2020 with FCC complaints data from 12 February 2020.

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.