FCC Consumer Complaints – 9 August 2020

Introduction

The Federal Communications Commission recorded 372 consumer complaints on Sunday, 9 August 2020 relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume fell from 481 complaints the day before. The complaints came from 46 states and territories, with New York reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls was reported slightly more frequently than other issues.

Key statistics

Total complaints
372
States & territories reporting
46
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (122)
Most reported state/territory
New York (46)

Where the complaints came from

On 9 August 2020, the 372 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 307 cities across 46 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.

The table below summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.

State/Territory Complaints
New York 46 12.4%
California 39 10.5%
Texas 39 10.5%
New Jersey 22 5.9%
Florida 21 5.6%
Pennsylvania 20 5.4%
Arizona 14 3.8%
Georgia 11 3.0%
Illinois 11 3.0%
Maryland 11 3.0%
Other states and territories 138 37.1%

What the complaints were about

A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 183 complaints. This was followed by Internet, which accounted for 122 complaints.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 183 49.2%
Internet 122 32.8%
TV 57 15.3%
Accessibility 4 1.1%
Emergency 3 0.8%
Radio 3 0.8%

Phone complaints

183 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 49.2% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 122 66.7%
Billing 15 8.2%
Availability (including rural call completion) 14 7.7%
Equipment 14 7.7%
Privacy 6 3.3%
Interference (including signal jammers) 4 2.2%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 4 2.2%
Junk Faxes 2 1.1%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 1 0.5%
Rural Call Completion 1 0.5%

Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.

Internet complaints

122 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 32.8% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Availability 55 45.1%
Billing 25 20.5%
Speed 16 13.1%
Interference 11 9.0%
Equipment 9 7.4%
Privacy 6 4.9%

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 15.3% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Availability 21 36.8%
Billing 16 28.1%
Loud Commercials 6 10.5%
Equipment 5 8.8%
Indecency 5 8.8%
Interference 2 3.5%
Privacy 2 3.5%

The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.

Unwanted calls

There were 122 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 32.8% 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
(208) 262-0000 7 5.7%
(315) 232-8257 7 5.7%
(609) 952-0066 2 1.6%
(201) 793-2324 1 0.8%
(209) 200-1622 1 0.8%
(213) 472-9927 1 0.8%
(251) 302-8868 1 0.8%
(315) 362-9728 1 0.8%
(318) 217-8476 1 0.8%
(401) 258-5865 1 0.8%

Key patterns

  • Abandoned Calls was reported slightly more often than other call types.
  • Several business contact numbers were reported multiple times, with no single number clearly ahead of the others.
  • Reports were spread across many different caller ID numbers, with no single number dominating.
Page last updated: 10 August 2020 with FCC complaints data from 9 August 2020.

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.