FCC Consumer Complaints – 11 March 2020
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 882 consumer complaints on Wednesday, 11 March 2020 relating to telecommunications services. Reports were received from 52 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 540 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 882
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (540)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (94)
Where the complaints came from
A total of 882 complaints were recorded on 11 March 2020, with reports originating from 568 cities in 52 states and territories. 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 table below shows the distribution of complaints by state and territory for this date, highlighting the locations with the highest number of reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 94 | 10.7% |
| Texas | 83 | 9.4% |
| Florida | 74 | 8.4% |
| New York | 44 | 5.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 44 | 5.0% |
| Virginia | 40 | 4.5% |
| North Carolina | 36 | 4.1% |
| Maryland | 35 | 4.0% |
| Illinois | 33 | 3.7% |
| Ohio | 26 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 372 | 42.2% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 7 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 664 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 664 | 75.3% |
| Internet | 122 | 13.8% |
| TV | 72 | 8.2% |
| Radio | 14 | 1.6% |
| Accessibility | 5 | 0.6% |
| Emergency | 4 | 0.5% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
664 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 75.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 540 | 81.3% |
| Billing | 47 | 7.1% |
| Equipment | 21 | 3.2% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 15 | 2.3% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 12 | 1.8% |
| Privacy | 10 | 1.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 9 | 1.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 2 | 0.3% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 2 | 0.3% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Equipment and Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers).
Internet complaints
122 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 57 | 46.7% |
| Availability | 38 | 31.1% |
| Interference | 9 | 7.4% |
| Speed | 8 | 6.6% |
| Privacy | 7 | 5.7% |
| Equipment | 3 | 2.5% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
TV complaints
72 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 36 | 50.0% |
| Availability | 24 | 33.3% |
| Indecency | 5 | 6.9% |
| Equipment | 3 | 4.2% |
| Loud Commercials | 3 | 4.2% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.4% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
There were 540 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 61.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (570) 748-3492 | 12 | 2.2% |
| (217) 236-6034 | 3 | 0.6% |
| (240) 999-1784 | 3 | 0.6% |
| (800) 903-3637 | 3 | 0.6% |
| (202) 601-9212 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (248) 675-0320 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (302) 515-8764 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (619) 330-1897 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (619) 798-9835 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (623) 476-0455 | 2 | 0.4% |
Key patterns
- Abandoned Calls was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
- (570) 748-3492 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.