FCC Consumer Complaints – 16 March 2020
Introduction
On 16 March 2020, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 469 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume increased from 267 complaints the day before. The complaints came from 44 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 253 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 469
- States & territories reporting
- 44
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (253)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (62)
Where the complaints came from
The 469 complaints recorded on 16 March 2020 were submitted from 369 cities across 44 states and territories. Activity was spread across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a substantial share of complaints. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
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 | 62 | 13.2% |
| Texas | 40 | 8.5% |
| Florida | 39 | 8.3% |
| New York | 21 | 4.5% |
| Georgia | 19 | 4.1% |
| Maryland | 19 | 4.1% |
| North Carolina | 17 | 3.6% |
| Washington | 17 | 3.6% |
| Michigan | 16 | 3.4% |
| Ohio | 16 | 3.4% |
| Other states and territories | 201 | 42.9% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 317 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 317 | 67.6% |
| Internet | 87 | 18.6% |
| TV | 57 | 12.2% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.9% |
| Radio | 3 | 0.6% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
317 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 67.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 253 | 79.8% |
| Billing | 20 | 6.3% |
| Equipment | 15 | 4.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 10 | 3.2% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 6 | 1.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 1.6% |
| Privacy | 4 | 1.3% |
| Junk Faxes | 2 | 0.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 1 | 0.3% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).
Internet complaints
87 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 18.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 33 | 37.9% |
| Billing | 32 | 36.8% |
| Speed | 12 | 13.8% |
| Equipment | 4 | 4.6% |
| Privacy | 4 | 4.6% |
| Interference | 2 | 2.3% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
57 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 25 | 43.9% |
| Availability | 18 | 31.6% |
| Indecency | 8 | 14.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 5 | 8.8% |
| Equipment | 1 | 1.8% |
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 253 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 53.9% 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 business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (315) 232-8257 | 6 | 2.4% |
| (301) 219-9971 | 4 | 1.6% |
| (800) 301-5074 | 2 | 0.8% |
| (844) 989-1702 | 2 | 0.8% |
| (873) 314-1798 | 2 | 0.8% |
| (206) 323-3767 | 1 | 0.4% |
| (206) 401-8144 | 1 | 0.4% |
| (208) 262-0000 | 1 | 0.4% |
| (208) 830-0193 | 1 | 0.4% |
| (240) 249-7695 | 1 | 0.4% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (315) 232-8257 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.