FCC Consumer Complaints – 1 October 2020
Introduction
A total of 1253 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 1 October 2020, this represented an increase from the 1178 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 51 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 828 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1253
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (828)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (148)
Where the complaints came from
On 1 October 2020, the 1253 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 807 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large share of reports. 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 | 148 | 11.8% |
| Texas | 91 | 7.3% |
| Florida | 86 | 6.9% |
| New York | 78 | 6.2% |
| Georgia | 57 | 4.5% |
| Illinois | 48 | 3.8% |
| Michigan | 48 | 3.8% |
| Washington | 45 | 3.6% |
| Virginia | 43 | 3.4% |
| New Jersey | 42 | 3.4% |
| Other states and territories | 564 | 45.0% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 998 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 998 | 79.6% |
| Internet | 171 | 13.6% |
| TV | 69 | 5.5% |
| Radio | 8 | 0.6% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.3% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
998 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 79.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 828 | 83.0% |
| Billing | 51 | 5.1% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 44 | 4.4% |
| Equipment | 26 | 2.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 13 | 1.3% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 10 | 1.0% |
| Junk Faxes | 9 | 0.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 8 | 0.8% |
| Privacy | 8 | 0.8% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.1% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section 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
171 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 69 | 40.4% |
| Billing | 46 | 26.9% |
| Equipment | 20 | 11.7% |
| Speed | 20 | 11.7% |
| Interference | 9 | 5.3% |
| Privacy | 7 | 4.1% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
69 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 5.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 27 | 39.1% |
| Availability | 25 | 36.2% |
| Loud Commercials | 8 | 11.6% |
| Equipment | 5 | 7.2% |
| Indecency | 3 | 4.3% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.4% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
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.