FCC Consumer Complaints – 27 January 2021

Introduction

A total of 1209 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 27 January 2021, this was higher than the 1091 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 51 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 708 complaints.

Key statistics

Total complaints
1209
States & territories reporting
51
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (708)
Most reported state/territory
California (149)

Where the complaints came from

A total of 1209 complaints were recorded on 27 January 2021, with reports originating from 787 cities in 51 states and territories. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.

The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.

State/Territory Complaints
California 149 12.3%
Texas 91 7.5%
New York 79 6.5%
Florida 63 5.2%
Pennsylvania 59 4.9%
Virginia 55 4.5%
Illinois 47 3.9%
New Jersey 47 3.9%
Ohio 39 3.2%
North Carolina 38 3.1%
Other states and territories 539 44.6%

Location highlight

California had the widest distribution of complaints, with reports originating from 90 different cities.

What the complaints were about

Complaints recorded on this date related to 7 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 873 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 873 72.2%
Internet 218 18.0%
TV 90 7.4%
Radio 20 1.7%
Accessibility 4 0.3%
Emergency 3 0.2%
Request for Dispute Assistance 1 0.1%

Phone complaints

873 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 72.2% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 708 81.1%
Billing 62 7.1%
Availability (including rural call completion) 27 3.1%
Equipment 24 2.7%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 19 2.2%
Junk Faxes 12 1.4%
Privacy 7 0.8%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 6 0.7%
Interference (including signal jammers) 6 0.7%
Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) 2 0.2%

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

218 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 18.0% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 82 37.6%
Availability 64 29.4%
Speed 32 14.7%
Interference 24 11.0%
Equipment 8 3.7%
Privacy 8 3.7%

The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.

TV complaints

90 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.4% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 35 38.9%
Availability 21 23.3%
Indecency 17 18.9%
Loud Commercials 12 13.3%
Equipment 4 4.4%
Interference 1 1.1%

The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.

Unwanted calls

708 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 58.6% of all complaints. Reports referenced both caller ID numbers and business contact numbers, with number tables shown where meaningful patterns are present.

Most reported caller ID numbers

Telephone number Complaints Share
(507) 200-2918 6 0.8%
(217) 286-9896 2 0.3%
(267) 732-0041 2 0.3%
(310) 878-3265 2 0.3%
(510) 671-0711 2 0.3%
(800) 414-5380 2 0.3%
(970) 423-7386 2 0.3%
(201) 468-8833 1 0.1%
(202) 326-2222 1 0.1%
(202) 770-4640 1 0.1%

Most reported business contact numbers

Telephone number Complaints Share
(315) 232-8257 8 1.1%
(507) 200-2918 6 0.8%
(310) 878-3265 2 0.3%
(407) 842-4113 2 0.3%
(510) 671-0711 2 0.3%
(562) 384-7731 2 0.3%
(714) 694-7603 2 0.3%
(813) 349-8712 2 0.3%
(813) 544-2057 2 0.3%
(866) 307-7661 2 0.3%

Key patterns

  • Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
  • (315) 232-8257 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
  • (507) 200-2918 stood out as the most frequently reported caller ID number.
Page last updated: 28 January 2021 with FCC complaints data from 27 January 2021.

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.