FCC Consumer Complaints – 4 March 2020
Introduction
A total of 902 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 4 March 2020, complaint volume fell from 943 complaints the day before. Reports were received from 50 states and territories, with Texas recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 553 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 902
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (553)
- Most reported state/territory
- Texas (107)
Where the complaints came from
On 4 March 2020, the 902 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 603 cities across 50 states and territories. Complaint reports were spread across multiple states and territories, without any one location accounting for a large share. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
The table below summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 107 | 11.9% |
| California | 71 | 7.9% |
| New York | 60 | 6.7% |
| Florida | 58 | 6.4% |
| Virginia | 53 | 5.9% |
| Arizona | 36 | 4.0% |
| New Jersey | 34 | 3.8% |
| Ohio | 32 | 3.5% |
| Illinois | 31 | 3.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 26 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 394 | 43.7% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 673 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 673 | 74.6% |
| TV | 110 | 12.2% |
| Internet | 101 | 11.2% |
| Radio | 11 | 1.2% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.4% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.3% |
Phone complaints
673 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 74.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 553 | 82.2% |
| Billing | 49 | 7.3% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 17 | 2.5% |
| Equipment | 17 | 2.5% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 12 | 1.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 11 | 1.6% |
| Privacy | 6 | 0.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 4 | 0.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 0.4% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
TV complaints
110 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 58 | 52.7% |
| Indecency | 23 | 20.9% |
| Availability | 18 | 16.4% |
| Equipment | 5 | 4.5% |
| Loud Commercials | 5 | 4.5% |
| Privacy | 1 | 0.9% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Indecency, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
101 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 53 | 52.5% |
| Availability | 26 | 25.7% |
| Speed | 11 | 10.9% |
| Privacy | 7 | 6.9% |
| Equipment | 3 | 3.0% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.0% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
A total of 553 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 61.3% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (315) 232-8257 | 9 | 1.6% |
| (208) 262-0000 | 4 | 0.7% |
| (628) 256-7329 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (512) 565-0596 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (520) 265-5400 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (636) 277-9456 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (725) 208-6217 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (800) 950-5114 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (805) 609-6089 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (201) 437-2829 | 1 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (315) 232-8257 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
- 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.