FCC Consumer Complaints – 16 January 2021
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 495 consumer complaints on Saturday, 16 January 2021 relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume fell from 1027 complaints the previous day. Reports were received from 49 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 264 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 495
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (264)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (57)
Where the complaints came from
The 495 complaints recorded on 16 January 2021 originated from 394 cities across 49 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 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 | 57 | 11.5% |
| Texas | 41 | 8.3% |
| Florida | 34 | 6.9% |
| New York | 32 | 6.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 20 | 4.0% |
| New Jersey | 18 | 3.6% |
| Georgia | 17 | 3.4% |
| Missouri | 17 | 3.4% |
| Illinois | 16 | 3.2% |
| North Carolina | 16 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 227 | 45.9% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 4 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 334 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 334 | 67.5% |
| Internet | 85 | 17.2% |
| TV | 68 | 13.7% |
| Radio | 8 | 1.6% |
Phone complaints
334 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 67.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 264 | 79.0% |
| Billing | 30 | 9.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 15 | 4.5% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 2.1% |
| Equipment | 7 | 2.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 6 | 1.8% |
| Privacy | 4 | 1.2% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 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 Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill).
Internet complaints
85 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 17.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 32 | 37.6% |
| Billing | 25 | 29.4% |
| Speed | 14 | 16.5% |
| Equipment | 5 | 5.9% |
| Privacy | 5 | 5.9% |
| Interference | 4 | 4.7% |
Availability and Billing were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
TV complaints
68 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 21 | 30.9% |
| Availability | 19 | 27.9% |
| Loud Commercials | 14 | 20.6% |
| Indecency | 10 | 14.7% |
| Interference | 3 | 4.4% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.5% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Loud Commercials.
Unwanted calls
There were 264 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 53.3% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (315) 232-8257 | 14 | 5.3% |
| (999) 999-9999 | 3 | 1.1% |
| (202) 929-3751 | 1 | 0.4% |
| (206) 208-2122 | 1 | 0.4% |
| (207) 424-2433 | 1 | 0.4% |
| (210) 521-9798 | 1 | 0.4% |
| (214) 983-4511 | 1 | 0.4% |
| (217) 207-8605 | 1 | 0.4% |
| (217) 302-2967 | 1 | 0.4% |
| (225) 252-0362 | 1 | 0.4% |
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.