FCC Consumer Complaints – 18 October 2020
Introduction
A total of 343 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 18 October 2020, this was lower than the 490 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 43 states and territories, without one location accounting for a clearly higher number of reports. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 170 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 343
- States & territories reporting
- 43
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (170)
Where the complaints came from
The 343 complaints recorded on 18 October 2020 originated from 256 cities across 43 states and territories. Complaint activity was widely distributed across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a notable 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 | 28 | 8.2% |
| North Carolina | 28 | 8.2% |
| New York | 28 | 8.2% |
| Texas | 22 | 6.4% |
| Florida | 18 | 5.2% |
| Kentucky | 18 | 5.2% |
| Washington | 15 | 4.4% |
| Louisiana | 14 | 4.1% |
| Arizona | 12 | 3.5% |
| New Jersey | 11 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 149 | 43.4% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 211 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 211 | 61.5% |
| Internet | 74 | 21.6% |
| TV | 46 | 13.4% |
| Radio | 8 | 2.3% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.9% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.3% |
Phone complaints
211 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 61.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 170 | 80.6% |
| Billing | 16 | 7.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 13 | 6.2% |
| Equipment | 7 | 3.3% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 3 | 1.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 1 | 0.5% |
| Privacy | 1 | 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
74 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 21.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 41 | 55.4% |
| Billing | 11 | 14.9% |
| Speed | 8 | 10.8% |
| Interference | 7 | 9.5% |
| Privacy | 5 | 6.8% |
| Equipment | 2 | 2.7% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
46 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 15 | 32.6% |
| Loud Commercials | 11 | 23.9% |
| Billing | 9 | 19.6% |
| Indecency | 9 | 19.6% |
| Equipment | 2 | 4.3% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Availability, Loud Commercials and Billing.
Unwanted calls
170 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 | 5 | 2.9% |
| (208) 262-0000 | 3 | 1.8% |
| (561) 593-4205 | 2 | 1.2% |
| (202) 998-2935 | 1 | 0.6% |
| (210) 659-7923 | 1 | 0.6% |
| (215) 220-3890 | 1 | 0.6% |
| (215) 935-4142 | 1 | 0.6% |
| (216) 337-8032 | 1 | 0.6% |
| (216) 369-5644 | 1 | 0.6% |
| (216) 670-6286 | 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.
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.