FCC Consumer Complaints – 14 September 2020
Introduction
On Monday, 14 September 2020, 1157 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this represented an increase from the 397 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 51 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 654 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1157
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (654)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (105)
Where the complaints came from
Across 797 cities in 51 states and territories, a total of 1157 complaints were recorded on 14 September 2020. Complaint activity was widely distributed across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a notable share of reports. 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 | 105 | 9.1% |
| Texas | 99 | 8.6% |
| Florida | 96 | 8.3% |
| New York | 82 | 7.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 53 | 4.6% |
| Colorado | 44 | 3.8% |
| Georgia | 44 | 3.8% |
| North Carolina | 41 | 3.5% |
| Illinois | 33 | 2.9% |
| New Jersey | 33 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 517 | 44.7% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 7 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 831 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 831 | 71.8% |
| Internet | 204 | 17.6% |
| TV | 100 | 8.6% |
| Radio | 15 | 1.3% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.3% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.3% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
831 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 71.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 654 | 78.7% |
| Billing | 57 | 6.9% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 51 | 6.1% |
| Equipment | 26 | 3.1% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 14 | 1.7% |
| Privacy | 10 | 1.2% |
| Junk Faxes | 8 | 1.0% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 7 | 0.8% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 4 | 0.5% |
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, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
204 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 17.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 92 | 45.1% |
| Billing | 57 | 27.9% |
| Speed | 24 | 11.8% |
| Equipment | 16 | 7.8% |
| Interference | 11 | 5.4% |
| Privacy | 4 | 2.0% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
100 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 46 | 46.0% |
| Availability | 24 | 24.0% |
| Indecency | 16 | 16.0% |
| Equipment | 11 | 11.0% |
| Interference | 2 | 2.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 1 | 1.0% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
654 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 56.5% 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 | 6 | 0.9% |
| (804) 389-4123 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (208) 203-4121 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (208) 262-0000 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (281) 501-7768 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (561) 448-7244 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (678) 606-8184 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (719) 452-8970 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (970) 252-1309 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (201) 299-7979 | 1 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (315) 232-8257 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
- 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.