FCC Consumer Complaints – 20 July 2020
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 1018 consumer complaints on Monday, 20 July 2020 relating to telecommunications services, this represented an increase from the 305 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 50 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 521 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1018
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (521)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (136)
Where the complaints came from
The 1018 complaints recorded on 20 July 2020 were submitted from 709 cities across 50 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 | 136 | 13.4% |
| Texas | 87 | 8.5% |
| Florida | 83 | 8.2% |
| New York | 54 | 5.3% |
| Ohio | 40 | 3.9% |
| Illinois | 36 | 3.5% |
| North Carolina | 33 | 3.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 33 | 3.2% |
| New Jersey | 31 | 3.0% |
| Washington | 30 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 451 | 44.3% |
Location highlight
Complaints in California were reported across 86 cities, the widest spread observed on this date.
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 7 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 685 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 685 | 67.3% |
| Internet | 194 | 19.1% |
| TV | 117 | 11.5% |
| Radio | 15 | 1.5% |
| Emergency | 4 | 0.4% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 2 | 0.2% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
685 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 67.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 521 | 76.1% |
| Billing | 60 | 8.8% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 37 | 5.4% |
| Equipment | 30 | 4.4% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 10 | 1.5% |
| Privacy | 10 | 1.5% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 4 | 0.6% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.1% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment among the most common.
Internet complaints
194 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 19.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 92 | 47.4% |
| Billing | 55 | 28.4% |
| Speed | 21 | 10.8% |
| Equipment | 10 | 5.2% |
| Interference | 9 | 4.6% |
| Privacy | 7 | 3.6% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
117 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 53 | 45.3% |
| Availability | 35 | 29.9% |
| Equipment | 12 | 10.3% |
| Indecency | 6 | 5.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 5 | 4.3% |
| Interference | 4 | 3.4% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.7% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
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.