FCC Consumer Complaints – 27 March 2020
Introduction
On 27 March 2020, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 593 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume fell from 648 complaints the previous day. Reports were received from 48 states and territories, with Texas recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 275 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 593
- States & territories reporting
- 48
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (275)
- Most reported state/territory
- Texas (63)
Where the complaints came from
The 593 complaints recorded on 27 March 2020 were submitted from 422 cities across 48 states and territories. Complaint reports were spread across multiple states and territories, without any one location accounting for a large share. At the city level, a significant concentration was observed in Iowa, where Iowa City accounted for 27 of the 30 complaints recorded.
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 | 63 | 10.6% |
| California | 56 | 9.4% |
| Florida | 35 | 5.9% |
| Iowa | 30 | 5.1% |
| Ohio | 30 | 5.1% |
| New York | 28 | 4.7% |
| North Carolina | 23 | 3.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 22 | 3.7% |
| Maryland | 17 | 2.9% |
| Michigan | 17 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 268 | 45.2% |
Location highlight
Nearly all complaints reported in Iowa originated from Iowa City.
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 355 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 355 | 59.9% |
| Internet | 146 | 24.6% |
| TV | 74 | 12.5% |
| Radio | 12 | 2.0% |
| Emergency | 4 | 0.7% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 2 | 0.3% |
Phone complaints
355 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 59.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 275 | 77.5% |
| Billing | 29 | 8.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 15 | 4.2% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 12 | 3.4% |
| Equipment | 8 | 2.3% |
| Privacy | 7 | 2.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 1.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 0.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 1 | 0.3% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers).
Internet complaints
146 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 24.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 54 | 37.0% |
| Billing | 47 | 32.2% |
| Speed | 27 | 18.5% |
| Equipment | 7 | 4.8% |
| Interference | 6 | 4.1% |
| Privacy | 5 | 3.4% |
Availability and Billing were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
TV complaints
74 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 41 | 55.4% |
| Availability | 16 | 21.6% |
| Equipment | 6 | 8.1% |
| Indecency | 6 | 8.1% |
| Privacy | 3 | 4.1% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.4% |
| Loud Commercials | 1 | 1.4% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
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.