FCC Consumer Complaints – 18 August 2020
Introduction
On Tuesday, 18 August 2020, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1122 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented a decline from the 1132 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 52 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 648 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1122
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (648)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (113)
Where the complaints came from
On 18 August 2020, the 1122 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 722 cities across 52 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. 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 | 113 | 10.1% |
| Texas | 92 | 8.2% |
| New York | 90 | 8.0% |
| Florida | 67 | 6.0% |
| New Jersey | 51 | 4.5% |
| North Carolina | 50 | 4.5% |
| Georgia | 47 | 4.2% |
| Illinois | 47 | 4.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 46 | 4.1% |
| Ohio | 41 | 3.7% |
| Other states and territories | 471 | 42.0% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 7 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 818 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 818 | 72.9% |
| Internet | 199 | 17.7% |
| TV | 91 | 8.1% |
| Radio | 9 | 0.8% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.2% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 2 | 0.2% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
818 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 72.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 648 | 79.2% |
| Billing | 51 | 6.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 43 | 5.3% |
| Equipment | 32 | 3.9% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 15 | 1.8% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 9 | 1.1% |
| Junk Faxes | 8 | 1.0% |
| Privacy | 8 | 1.0% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 4 | 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
199 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 17.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 98 | 49.2% |
| Billing | 43 | 21.6% |
| Speed | 31 | 15.6% |
| Interference | 11 | 5.5% |
| Privacy | 9 | 4.5% |
| Equipment | 7 | 3.5% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
91 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 44 | 48.4% |
| Availability | 16 | 17.6% |
| Loud Commercials | 12 | 13.2% |
| Equipment | 9 | 9.9% |
| Indecency | 6 | 6.6% |
| Interference | 2 | 2.2% |
| Privacy | 2 | 2.2% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
648 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 57.8% of all complaints. Reports referenced both caller ID numbers and business contact numbers, with number tables shown where meaningful patterns are present.
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (315) 232-8257 | 8 | 1.2% |
| (208) 262-0000 | 5 | 0.8% |
| (719) 452-8970 | 4 | 0.6% |
| (470) 231-4478 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (631) 886-2688 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (646) 933-4425 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (866) 206-6249 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (888) 255-1635 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (202) 727-2540 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (202) 768-7938 | 1 | 0.2% |
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.