FCC Consumer Complaints – 8 March 2021
Introduction
On 8 March 2021, 1017 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this was higher than the 394 complaints recorded the day before. Complaints were reported across 49 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 655 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1017
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (655)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (121)
Where the complaints came from
The 1017 complaints recorded on 8 March 2021 originated from 665 cities across 49 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 | 121 | 11.9% |
| Florida | 103 | 10.1% |
| Texas | 82 | 8.1% |
| Michigan | 63 | 6.2% |
| New York | 60 | 5.9% |
| Georgia | 49 | 4.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 46 | 4.5% |
| North Carolina | 35 | 3.4% |
| New Jersey | 35 | 3.4% |
| Illinois | 30 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 393 | 38.6% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 7 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 784 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 784 | 77.1% |
| Internet | 145 | 14.3% |
| TV | 80 | 7.9% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.3% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
| Radio | 2 | 0.2% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
784 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 77.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 655 | 83.5% |
| Billing | 46 | 5.9% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 29 | 3.7% |
| Equipment | 22 | 2.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 9 | 1.1% |
| Privacy | 8 | 1.0% |
| Junk Faxes | 7 | 0.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 0.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 0.4% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
145 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 57 | 39.3% |
| Billing | 42 | 29.0% |
| Speed | 28 | 19.3% |
| Interference | 8 | 5.5% |
| Equipment | 6 | 4.1% |
| Privacy | 4 | 2.8% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
80 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 29 | 36.3% |
| Loud Commercials | 23 | 28.7% |
| Availability | 20 | 25.0% |
| Indecency | 5 | 6.3% |
| Equipment | 2 | 2.5% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.3% |
Billing and Loud Commercials accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
There were 655 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 64.4% 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 | 13 | 2.0% |
| (833) 304-1447 | 7 | 1.1% |
| (844) 987-3498 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (208) 684-7945 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (208) 932-2752 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (435) 938-7604 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (803) 403-7293 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (866) 466-6239 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (201) 248-7304 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (201) 479-4881 | 1 | 0.2% |
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.