FCC Consumer Complaints – 17 March 2021
Introduction
On Wednesday, 17 March 2021, 1414 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this was higher than the 1383 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 51 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 765 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1414
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (765)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (174)
Where the complaints came from
The 1414 complaints recorded on 17 March 2021 were submitted from 907 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large share of reports. 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 | 174 | 12.3% |
| Texas | 124 | 8.8% |
| Florida | 121 | 8.6% |
| New York | 78 | 5.5% |
| Virginia | 65 | 4.6% |
| Illinois | 51 | 3.6% |
| North Carolina | 51 | 3.6% |
| Ohio | 44 | 3.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 44 | 3.1% |
| Arizona | 42 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 610 | 43.1% |
Location highlight
Complaints in California were reported across 118 cities, the widest spread observed on this date.
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 929 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 929 | 65.7% |
| TV | 359 | 25.4% |
| Internet | 112 | 7.9% |
| Radio | 9 | 0.6% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.3% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
929 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 65.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 765 | 82.3% |
| Billing | 50 | 5.4% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 34 | 3.7% |
| Equipment | 32 | 3.4% |
| Junk Faxes | 14 | 1.5% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 11 | 1.2% |
| Privacy | 10 | 1.1% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 0.6% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 4 | 0.4% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 3 | 0.3% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
TV complaints
359 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 25.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Indecency | 252 | 70.2% |
| Availability | 54 | 15.0% |
| Billing | 34 | 9.5% |
| Loud Commercials | 10 | 2.8% |
| Equipment | 5 | 1.4% |
| Interference | 2 | 0.6% |
| Privacy | 2 | 0.6% |
Indecency and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Internet complaints
112 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 39 | 34.8% |
| Billing | 32 | 28.6% |
| Speed | 22 | 19.6% |
| Interference | 10 | 8.9% |
| Equipment | 7 | 6.3% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.8% |
Availability and Billing were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
There were 765 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 54.1% 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 caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (562) 529-4299 | 7 | 0.9% |
| (407) 905-1149 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (480) 878-9514 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (520) 257-3328 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (804) 392-8459 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (862) 824-5225 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (929) 552-6838 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (949) 518-0679 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (201) 319-8721 | 1 | 0.1% |
| (201) 775-0950 | 1 | 0.1% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (315) 232-8257 | 18 | 2.4% |
| (833) 304-1447 | 5 | 0.7% |
| (562) 529-4299 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (929) 552-6838 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (201) 468-8576 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (509) 639-3024 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (520) 257-3328 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (559) 840-4979 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (662) 222-4220 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (804) 392-8459 | 2 | 0.3% |
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.
- (562) 529-4299 stood out as the most frequently reported caller ID number.
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.