FCC Consumer Complaints – 5 May 2020
Introduction
On Tuesday, 5 May 2020, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 805 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented an increase from the 659 complaints recorded the day before. Complaints were reported across 48 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 407 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 805
- States & territories reporting
- 48
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (407)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (79)
Where the complaints came from
Across 542 cities in 48 states and territories, a total of 805 complaints were recorded on 5 May 2020. The complaints were widely dispersed, with no single state or territory representing a notable proportion of the total. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 79 | 9.8% |
| Florida | 73 | 9.1% |
| New York | 73 | 9.1% |
| Texas | 57 | 7.1% |
| North Carolina | 30 | 3.7% |
| Illinois | 29 | 3.6% |
| Maryland | 26 | 3.2% |
| New Jersey | 25 | 3.1% |
| Ohio | 25 | 3.1% |
| Colorado | 24 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 361 | 44.8% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 6 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 537 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 537 | 66.7% |
| Internet | 171 | 21.2% |
| TV | 79 | 9.8% |
| Radio | 12 | 1.5% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.5% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
537 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 66.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 407 | 75.8% |
| Billing | 46 | 8.6% |
| Equipment | 23 | 4.3% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 20 | 3.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 17 | 3.2% |
| Privacy | 9 | 1.7% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.9% |
| Junk Faxes | 4 | 0.7% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.2% |
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 Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers).
Internet complaints
171 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 21.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 62 | 36.3% |
| Billing | 52 | 30.4% |
| Speed | 31 | 18.1% |
| Privacy | 10 | 5.8% |
| Equipment | 8 | 4.7% |
| Interference | 8 | 4.7% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
79 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 38 | 48.1% |
| Availability | 23 | 29.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 7 | 8.9% |
| Equipment | 5 | 6.3% |
| Indecency | 3 | 3.8% |
| Privacy | 2 | 2.5% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.3% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
There were 407 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 50.6% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (303) 583-7310 | 9 | 2.2% |
| (240) 332-9665 | 2 | 0.5% |
| (270) 208-9428 | 2 | 0.5% |
| (480) 448-3777 | 2 | 0.5% |
| (719) 452-8970 | 2 | 0.5% |
| (877) 726-6210 | 2 | 0.5% |
| (202) 769-0014 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (204) 234-8558 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (205) 708-4490 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (205) 729-9905 | 1 | 0.2% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (303) 583-7310 | 9 | 2.2% |
| (844) 989-1708 | 4 | 1.0% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 3 | 0.7% |
| (240) 332-9665 | 2 | 0.5% |
| (719) 452-8970 | 2 | 0.5% |
| (770) 755-4036 | 2 | 0.5% |
| (877) 726-6210 | 2 | 0.5% |
| (202) 224-4343 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (202) 769-0014 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (202) 836-7696 | 1 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (303) 583-7310 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
- (303) 583-7310 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.