FCC Consumer Complaints – 16 December 2020
Introduction
A total of 1031 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday, 16 December 2020, this was higher than the 1002 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 51 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 566 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1031
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (566)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (113)
Where the complaints came from
Across 688 cities in 51 states and territories, a total of 1031 complaints were recorded on 16 December 2020. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant share. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
The table below shows the distribution of complaints by state and territory for this date, highlighting the locations with the highest number of reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 113 | 11.0% |
| Texas | 100 | 9.7% |
| Florida | 66 | 6.4% |
| New York | 60 | 5.8% |
| Georgia | 54 | 5.2% |
| Ohio | 45 | 4.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 43 | 4.2% |
| Oregon | 33 | 3.2% |
| New Jersey | 32 | 3.1% |
| Arizona | 31 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 450 | 43.6% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 5 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 725 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 725 | 70.3% |
| Internet | 154 | 14.9% |
| TV | 141 | 13.7% |
| Radio | 7 | 0.7% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.4% |
Phone complaints
725 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 70.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 566 | 78.1% |
| Billing | 55 | 7.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 30 | 4.1% |
| Equipment | 25 | 3.4% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 15 | 2.1% |
| Privacy | 10 | 1.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 9 | 1.2% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 7 | 1.0% |
| Junk Faxes | 7 | 1.0% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.1% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
154 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 62 | 40.3% |
| Availability | 51 | 33.1% |
| Speed | 19 | 12.3% |
| Interference | 14 | 9.1% |
| Equipment | 6 | 3.9% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.3% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
141 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 57 | 40.4% |
| Billing | 39 | 27.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 25 | 17.7% |
| Indecency | 14 | 9.9% |
| Equipment | 4 | 2.8% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.4% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
566 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 54.9% 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 | 10 | 1.8% |
| (208) 325-6521 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (504) 384-2611 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (513) 991-5945 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (844) 838-0403 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (855) 585-1406 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (201) 347-0233 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (206) 415-2019 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (206) 719-7552 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (208) 225-5265 | 1 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (315) 232-8257 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
- 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.