FCC Consumer Complaints – 29 January 2021
Introduction
A total of 1050 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 29 January 2021, complaint volume fell from 1125 complaints the day before. The complaints came from 50 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 644 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1050
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (644)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (107)
Where the complaints came from
The 1050 complaints recorded on 29 January 2021 were submitted from 697 cities across 50 states and territories. Activity was spread across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a substantial share of complaints. 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 | 107 | 10.2% |
| Florida | 78 | 7.4% |
| New York | 73 | 7.0% |
| Texas | 70 | 6.7% |
| New Jersey | 45 | 4.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 44 | 4.2% |
| Illinois | 42 | 4.0% |
| Ohio | 41 | 3.9% |
| Arizona | 39 | 3.7% |
| Georgia | 34 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 476 | 45.3% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 801 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 801 | 76.3% |
| Internet | 153 | 14.6% |
| TV | 82 | 7.8% |
| Radio | 8 | 0.8% |
| Accessibility | 5 | 0.5% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
801 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 76.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 644 | 80.4% |
| Billing | 69 | 8.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 25 | 3.1% |
| Equipment | 24 | 3.0% |
| Privacy | 13 | 1.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 8 | 1.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 0.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 6 | 0.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 4 | 0.5% |
| 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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
153 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 62 | 40.5% |
| Billing | 51 | 33.3% |
| Speed | 18 | 11.8% |
| Interference | 9 | 5.9% |
| Privacy | 9 | 5.9% |
| Equipment | 4 | 2.6% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
82 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 33 | 40.2% |
| Loud Commercials | 19 | 23.2% |
| Availability | 18 | 22.0% |
| Indecency | 9 | 11.0% |
| Equipment | 2 | 2.4% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.2% |
Billing and Loud Commercials accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
A total of 644 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 61.3% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact numbers are shown below where sufficient data is available.
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (315) 232-8257 | 11 | 1.7% |
| (267) 486-9780 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (443) 222-8110 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (623) 265-6546 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (732) 942-9668 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (760) 565-8322 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (810) 212-0178 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (201) 273-9535 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (202) 960-4700 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (205) 742-0257 | 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.