FCC Consumer Complaints – 5 April 2021
Introduction
A total of 951 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Monday, 5 April 2021, this was higher than the 232 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 52 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 584 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 951
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (584)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (155)
Where the complaints came from
The 951 complaints recorded on 5 April 2021 originated from 632 cities across 52 states and territories. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
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 | 155 | 16.3% |
| Texas | 80 | 8.4% |
| Florida | 67 | 7.0% |
| New York | 57 | 6.0% |
| Massachusetts | 38 | 4.0% |
| Ohio | 34 | 3.6% |
| Colorado | 33 | 3.5% |
| Illinois | 31 | 3.3% |
| New Jersey | 30 | 3.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 30 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 390 | 41.0% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 8 complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 719 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 719 | 75.6% |
| Internet | 144 | 15.1% |
| TV | 64 | 6.7% |
| Radio | 13 | 1.4% |
| Broadband Story | 6 | 0.6% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 2 | 0.2% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
719 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 75.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 584 | 81.2% |
| Billing | 54 | 7.5% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 30 | 4.2% |
| Equipment | 23 | 3.2% |
| Privacy | 10 | 1.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 0.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 4 | 0.6% |
| Junk Faxes | 3 | 0.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 2 | 0.3% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 2 | 0.3% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
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.
Internet complaints
144 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 58 | 40.3% |
| Billing | 35 | 24.3% |
| Speed | 19 | 13.2% |
| Privacy | 14 | 9.7% |
| Equipment | 9 | 6.3% |
| Interference | 9 | 6.3% |
Availability and Billing were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
TV complaints
64 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 26 | 40.6% |
| Loud Commercials | 17 | 26.6% |
| Availability | 12 | 18.8% |
| Indecency | 6 | 9.4% |
| Interference | 3 | 4.7% |
Billing and Loud Commercials were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
There were 584 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 61.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (833) 304-1447 | 10 | 1.7% |
| (315) 232-8257 | 4 | 0.7% |
| (619) 776-7762 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (774) 255-5760 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (833) 372-4876 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (866) 761-0567 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (201) 720-9540 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (203) 554-6043 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (206) 472-7528 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (207) 579-1208 | 1 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (833) 304-1447 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.