FCC Consumer Complaints – 18 May 2021
Introduction
On Tuesday, 18 May 2021, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1015 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was higher than the 967 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 53 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 625 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1015
- States & territories reporting
- 53
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (625)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (99)
Where the complaints came from
The 1015 complaints recorded on 18 May 2021 originated from 677 cities across 53 states and territories. The complaints were widely dispersed, with no single state or territory representing a notable proportion of the total. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 99 | 9.8% |
| Texas | 87 | 8.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 73 | 7.2% |
| Arizona | 59 | 5.8% |
| Florida | 55 | 5.4% |
| New York | 50 | 4.9% |
| Washington | 39 | 3.8% |
| North Carolina | 34 | 3.3% |
| Colorado | 32 | 3.2% |
| Georgia | 31 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 453 | 44.6% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 7 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 786 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 786 | 77.4% |
| Internet | 137 | 13.5% |
| TV | 61 | 6.0% |
| Radio | 15 | 1.5% |
| Broadband Story | 9 | 0.9% |
| Emergency | 5 | 0.5% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
786 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 77.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 625 | 79.5% |
| Billing | 53 | 6.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 44 | 5.6% |
| Equipment | 20 | 2.5% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 17 | 2.2% |
| Privacy | 9 | 1.1% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 8 | 1.0% |
| Junk Faxes | 7 | 0.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 1 | 0.1% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.1% |
As is typical for this category, unwanted calls accounted for the largest share of complaints. A more detailed analysis of these reports is provided 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
137 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 52 | 38.0% |
| Availability | 44 | 32.1% |
| Speed | 17 | 12.4% |
| Equipment | 11 | 8.0% |
| Interference | 9 | 6.6% |
| Privacy | 4 | 2.9% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
61 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 29 | 47.5% |
| Availability | 9 | 14.8% |
| Equipment | 8 | 13.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 8 | 13.1% |
| Indecency | 5 | 8.2% |
| Interference | 2 | 3.3% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
A total of 625 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 61.6% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact numbers are shown below where sufficient data is available.
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (833) 304-1447 | 7 | 1.1% |
| (480) 716-2117 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (713) 410-9333 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (914) 816-4767 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (951) 453-9816 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (970) 441-5206 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (201) 708-2812 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (202) 285-0889 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (202) 410-3121 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (202) 804-6826 | 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.