FCC Consumer Complaints – 26 September 2020

Introduction

The Federal Communications Commission recorded 464 consumer complaints on 26 September 2020 relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 1097 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 43 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 275 complaints recorded.

Key statistics

Total complaints
464
States & territories reporting
43
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (275)
Most reported state/territory
California (54)

Where the complaints came from

The 464 complaints recorded on 26 September 2020 were submitted from 332 cities across 43 states and territories. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large 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 summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.

State/Territory Complaints
California 54 11.6%
Texas 40 8.6%
Florida 31 6.7%
New York 28 6.0%
Illinois 25 5.4%
Georgia 23 5.0%
Arizona 22 4.7%
Ohio 19 4.1%
Washington 18 3.9%
Pennsylvania 17 3.7%
Other states and territories 187 40.3%

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 328 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 328 70.7%
Internet 78 16.8%
TV 47 10.1%
Radio 6 1.3%
Accessibility 2 0.4%
Emergency 2 0.4%
Request for Dispute Assistance 1 0.2%

Phone complaints

328 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 70.7% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 275 83.8%
Billing 14 4.3%
Availability (including rural call completion) 11 3.4%
Equipment 9 2.7%
Interference (including signal jammers) 6 1.8%
Privacy 6 1.8%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 3 0.9%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 2 0.6%
Junk Faxes 1 0.3%
Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) 1 0.3%

Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.

Internet complaints

78 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 16.8% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Availability 34 43.6%
Billing 21 26.9%
Privacy 7 9.0%
Speed 7 9.0%
Interference 6 7.7%
Equipment 3 3.8%

Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.

TV complaints

47 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.1% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 17 36.2%
Loud Commercials 9 19.1%
Availability 8 17.0%
Indecency 7 14.9%
Equipment 5 10.6%
Privacy 1 2.1%

The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Loud Commercials and Availability.

Unwanted calls

There were 275 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 59.3% 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 10 3.6%
(315) 232-8257 6 2.2%
(310) 530-1071 2 0.7%
(405) 383-6627 2 0.7%
(458) 233-0104 2 0.7%
(917) 374-4256 2 0.7%
(212) 920-4144 1 0.4%
(216) 347-6299 1 0.4%
(217) 292-8129 1 0.4%
(231) 916-6578 1 0.4%

Key patterns

  • Unwanted call complaints were spread across multiple call types with similar counts.
  • (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.
Page last updated: 27 September 2020 with FCC complaints data from 26 September 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.