FCC Consumer Complaints – 2 May 2021

Introduction

On Sunday, 2 May 2021, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 300 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented a decline from the 497 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 43 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 123 complaints.

Key statistics

Total complaints
300
States & territories reporting
43
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (123)
Most reported state/territory
California (38)

Where the complaints came from

A total of 300 complaints were recorded on 2 May 2021, with reports originating from 230 cities in 43 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.

The table below shows the distribution of complaints by state and territory for this date, highlighting the locations with the highest number of reports.

State/Territory Complaints
California 38 12.7%
Texas 32 10.7%
Kentucky 22 7.3%
Florida 18 6.0%
Ohio 17 5.7%
North Carolina 15 5.0%
Virginia 15 5.0%
New York 12 4.0%
Georgia 11 3.7%
Missouri 10 3.3%
Other states and territories 110 36.7%

What the complaints were about

Complaints recorded on this date related to 5 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 178 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 178 59.3%
Internet 64 21.3%
TV 35 11.7%
Radio 14 4.7%
Broadband Story 9 3.0%

Phone complaints

178 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 59.3% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 123 69.1%
Billing 18 10.1%
Availability (including rural call completion) 12 6.7%
Equipment 12 6.7%
Interference (including signal jammers) 4 2.2%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 3 1.7%
Privacy 3 1.7%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 2 1.1%
Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) 1 0.6%

Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section 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

64 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 21.3% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Availability 22 34.4%
Billing 17 26.6%
Speed 11 17.2%
Equipment 6 9.4%
Interference 6 9.4%
Privacy 2 3.1%

Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.

TV complaints

35 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.7% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Loud Commercials 13 37.1%
Billing 11 31.4%
Availability 5 14.3%
Indecency 5 14.3%
Equipment 1 2.9%

Loud Commercials and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.

Page last updated: 3 May 2021 with FCC complaints data from 2 May 2021.

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.