FCC Consumer Complaints – 12 July 2021

Introduction

On 12 July 2021, 940 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this was higher than the 302 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 509 complaints recorded.

Key statistics

Total complaints
940
States & territories reporting
51
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (509)
Most reported state/territory
California (98)

Where the complaints came from

On 12 July 2021, the 940 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 649 cities across 51 states and territories. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. 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 98 10.4%
Texas 84 8.9%
Florida 73 7.8%
New York 63 6.7%
Ohio 38 4.0%
Georgia 31 3.3%
Pennsylvania 30 3.2%
Colorado 28 3.0%
Massachusetts 27 2.9%
New Jersey 27 2.9%
Other states and territories 437 46.5%

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 703 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 703 74.8%
Internet 144 15.3%
TV 68 7.2%
Radio 16 1.7%
Broadband Story 3 0.3%
Emergency 3 0.3%
Accessibility 2 0.2%
Request for Dispute Assistance 1 0.1%

Phone complaints

703 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 74.8% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 509 72.4%
Billing 63 9.0%
Availability (including rural call completion) 57 8.1%
Equipment 34 4.8%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 13 1.8%
Privacy 10 1.4%
Junk Faxes 9 1.3%
Interference (including signal jammers) 4 0.6%
Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) 2 0.3%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 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 15.3% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 58 40.3%
Availability 51 35.4%
Interference 12 8.3%
Speed 9 6.3%
Equipment 8 5.6%
Privacy 6 4.2%

The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.

TV complaints

68 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.2% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 35 51.5%
Availability 12 17.6%
Loud Commercials 9 13.2%
Indecency 5 7.4%
Equipment 4 5.9%
Privacy 2 2.9%
Interference 1 1.5%

The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.

Unwanted calls

509 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 54.1% of all complaints. Reports referenced both caller ID numbers and business contact numbers, with number tables shown where meaningful patterns are present.

Most reported business contact numbers

Telephone number Complaints Share
(315) 232-8257 9 1.8%
(833) 304-1447 4 0.8%
(510) 264-7564 2 0.4%
(877) 287-1090 2 0.4%
(202) 897-4673 1 0.2%
(207) 715-3865 1 0.2%
(207) 851-6058 1 0.2%
(208) 507-5944 1 0.2%
(208) 675-1030 1 0.2%
(208) 725-0194 1 0.2%

Key patterns

  • All unwanted call complaints with a recorded service type related to None.
  • Live Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
  • (315) 232-8257 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
  • Reports were spread across many different caller ID numbers, with no single number dominating.
Page last updated: 13 July 2021 with FCC complaints data from 12 July 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.