FCC Consumer Complaints – 14 May 2021
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 875 consumer complaints on 14 May 2021 relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume fell from 947 complaints the day before. Reports were received from 51 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 503 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 875
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (503)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (103)
Where the complaints came from
On 14 May 2021, the 875 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 595 cities across 51 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 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 | 103 | 11.8% |
| Texas | 69 | 7.9% |
| New York | 52 | 5.9% |
| Florida | 47 | 5.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 47 | 5.4% |
| North Carolina | 36 | 4.1% |
| Ohio | 33 | 3.8% |
| Massachusetts | 31 | 3.5% |
| Colorado | 28 | 3.2% |
| Michigan | 28 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 399 | 45.6% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 8 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 661 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 661 | 75.5% |
| Internet | 127 | 14.5% |
| TV | 57 | 6.5% |
| Radio | 17 | 1.9% |
| Broadband Story | 6 | 0.7% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.3% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 3 | 0.3% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
661 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 75.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 503 | 76.1% |
| Billing | 65 | 9.8% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 35 | 5.3% |
| Equipment | 18 | 2.7% |
| Privacy | 14 | 2.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 8 | 1.2% |
| Junk Faxes | 7 | 1.1% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.8% |
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
127 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 45 | 35.4% |
| Availability | 42 | 33.1% |
| Speed | 20 | 15.7% |
| Equipment | 8 | 6.3% |
| Interference | 6 | 4.7% |
| Privacy | 6 | 4.7% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
57 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 24 | 42.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 15 | 26.3% |
| Availability | 10 | 17.5% |
| Indecency | 4 | 7.0% |
| Equipment | 3 | 5.3% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.8% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Loud Commercials, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
There were 503 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 57.5% 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 | 12 | 2.4% |
| (315) 232-8257 | 3 | 0.6% |
| (888) 225-5709 | 3 | 0.6% |
| (475) 271-7140 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (501) 209-7440 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (701) 248-7360 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (201) 581-2536 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (206) 752-5670 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (216) 538-2575 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (217) 634-9054 | 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.