FCC Consumer Complaints – 18 February 2021
Introduction
On 18 February 2021, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1037 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume increased from 1020 complaints the day before. Reports were received from 50 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 646 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1037
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (646)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (122)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 18 February 2021 show 1037 complaints originating from 712 cities across 50 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 summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 122 | 11.8% |
| Florida | 75 | 7.2% |
| Texas | 73 | 7.0% |
| New York | 54 | 5.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 44 | 4.2% |
| North Carolina | 43 | 4.1% |
| Virginia | 40 | 3.9% |
| Ohio | 38 | 3.7% |
| Arizona | 37 | 3.6% |
| Maryland | 33 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 470 | 45.3% |
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 798 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 798 | 77.0% |
| Internet | 128 | 12.3% |
| TV | 86 | 8.3% |
| Radio | 11 | 1.1% |
| Accessibility | 10 | 1.0% |
| Emergency | 4 | 0.4% |
Phone complaints
798 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 77.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 646 | 81.0% |
| Billing | 56 | 7.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 36 | 4.5% |
| Equipment | 18 | 2.3% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 12 | 1.5% |
| Privacy | 11 | 1.4% |
| Junk Faxes | 8 | 1.0% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 0.8% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 0.6% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided 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
128 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 59 | 46.1% |
| Billing | 34 | 26.6% |
| Speed | 14 | 10.9% |
| Equipment | 8 | 6.3% |
| Interference | 8 | 6.3% |
| Privacy | 5 | 3.9% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
86 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 37 | 43.0% |
| Availability | 25 | 29.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 15 | 17.4% |
| Indecency | 6 | 7.0% |
| Equipment | 2 | 2.3% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.2% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
There were 646 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 62.3% 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 | 6 | 0.9% |
| (833) 304-1447 | 5 | 0.8% |
| (888) 521-1936 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (208) 722-0217 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (260) 217-0907 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (714) 694-7603 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (714) 931-4373 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (716) 406-7266 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (800) 304-1447 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (866) 200-3504 | 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.
- 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.