FCC Consumer Complaints – 27 September 2020

Introduction

On 27 September 2020, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 363 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 464 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 47 states and territories, with California accounting for the largest number of submissions at 55 complaints. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 180 complaints recorded.

Key statistics

Total complaints
363
States & territories reporting
47
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (180)
Most reported state/territory
California (55)

Where the complaints came from

The 363 complaints recorded on 27 September 2020 were submitted from 269 cities across 47 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 55 15.2%
Florida 21 5.8%
New York 20 5.5%
Texas 19 5.2%
Georgia 16 4.4%
Wisconsin 16 4.4%
Arizona 15 4.1%
Louisiana 15 4.1%
Ohio 14 3.9%
North Carolina 13 3.6%
Other states and territories 159 43.8%

What the complaints were about

Complaints recorded on this date related to 7 different complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 225 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 225 62.0%
Internet 76 20.9%
TV 50 13.8%
Radio 5 1.4%
Accessibility 4 1.1%
Request for Dispute Assistance 2 0.6%
Emergency 1 0.3%

Phone complaints

225 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 62.0% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 180 80.0%
Availability (including rural call completion) 14 6.2%
Billing 8 3.6%
Privacy 7 3.1%
Equipment 5 2.2%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 5 2.2%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 3 1.3%
Interference (including signal jammers) 3 1.3%

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 Availability (including rural call completion), Billing and Privacy among the most common.

Internet complaints

76 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 20.9% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Availability 38 50.0%
Billing 19 25.0%
Speed 10 13.2%
Equipment 3 3.9%
Interference 3 3.9%
Privacy 3 3.9%

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

TV complaints

50 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.8% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Availability 17 34.0%
Loud Commercials 16 32.0%
Billing 8 16.0%
Indecency 4 8.0%
Interference 3 6.0%
Equipment 2 4.0%

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

Unwanted calls

180 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 49.6% 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 3.3%
(208) 262-0000 4 2.2%
(516) 474-1104 2 1.1%
(844) 330-2020 2 1.1%
(844) 931-4319 2 1.1%
(202) 843-5999 1 0.6%
(202) 972-1476 1 0.6%
(208) 260-0000 1 0.6%
(217) 629-5807 1 0.6%
(225) 460-3578 1 0.6%

Key patterns

  • Abandoned Calls 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.
Page last updated: 28 September 2020 with FCC complaints data from 27 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.