FCC Consumer Complaints – 19 September 2020
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 455 consumer complaints on Saturday, 19 September 2020 relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume fell from 1117 complaints the day before. The complaints came from 49 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 305 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 455
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (305)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (53)
Where the complaints came from
The 455 complaints recorded on 19 September 2020 originated from 329 cities across 49 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant share. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
The table below summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 53 | 11.6% |
| New York | 33 | 7.3% |
| Texas | 31 | 6.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 28 | 6.2% |
| Florida | 27 | 5.9% |
| Washington | 27 | 5.9% |
| Georgia | 19 | 4.2% |
| Virginia | 19 | 4.2% |
| New Jersey | 18 | 4.0% |
| Wisconsin | 16 | 3.5% |
| Other states and territories | 184 | 40.4% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 4 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 348 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 348 | 76.5% |
| Internet | 62 | 13.6% |
| TV | 38 | 8.4% |
| Radio | 7 | 1.5% |
Phone complaints
348 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 76.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 305 | 87.6% |
| Billing | 12 | 3.4% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 10 | 2.9% |
| Equipment | 9 | 2.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 4 | 1.1% |
| Privacy | 4 | 1.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 3 | 0.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 1 | 0.3% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided 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
62 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 25 | 40.3% |
| Billing | 14 | 22.6% |
| Speed | 12 | 19.4% |
| Interference | 5 | 8.1% |
| Privacy | 5 | 8.1% |
| Equipment | 1 | 1.6% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
38 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Loud Commercials | 12 | 31.6% |
| Availability | 11 | 28.9% |
| Billing | 9 | 23.7% |
| Equipment | 4 | 10.5% |
| Indecency | 2 | 5.3% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Loud Commercials and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
There were 305 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 67% 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 | 11 | 3.6% |
| (844) 204-9279 | 8 | 2.6% |
| (315) 232-8257 | 3 | 1.0% |
| (720) 710-2968 | 3 | 1.0% |
| (757) 866-3996 | 3 | 1.0% |
| (412) 500-9011 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (570) 530-8777 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (810) 228-7478 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (855) 584-8315 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (202) 773-1933 | 1 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Abandoned Calls was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (208) 262-0000 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.