FCC Consumer Complaints – 15 July 2021
Introduction
A total of 949 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday, 15 July 2021, this was lower than the 987 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 49 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 547 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 949
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (547)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (111)
Where the complaints came from
The 949 complaints recorded on 15 July 2021 originated from 619 cities across 49 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 111 | 11.7% |
| Texas | 88 | 9.3% |
| Florida | 68 | 7.2% |
| New York | 68 | 7.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 44 | 4.6% |
| North Carolina | 36 | 3.8% |
| Georgia | 35 | 3.7% |
| Illinois | 29 | 3.1% |
| Arizona | 27 | 2.8% |
| Ohio | 26 | 2.7% |
| Other states and territories | 415 | 43.7% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 7 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 715 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 715 | 75.3% |
| Internet | 150 | 15.8% |
| TV | 62 | 6.5% |
| Radio | 15 | 1.6% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.4% |
| Broadband Story | 2 | 0.2% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
715 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 75.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 547 | 76.5% |
| Billing | 50 | 7.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 37 | 5.2% |
| Equipment | 34 | 4.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 13 | 1.8% |
| Privacy | 13 | 1.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 11 | 1.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.7% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 3 | 0.4% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 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. 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
150 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 54 | 36.0% |
| Availability | 51 | 34.0% |
| Speed | 15 | 10.0% |
| Equipment | 14 | 9.3% |
| Privacy | 9 | 6.0% |
| Interference | 7 | 4.7% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
62 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 22 | 35.5% |
| Availability | 18 | 29.0% |
| Indecency | 7 | 11.3% |
| Equipment | 6 | 9.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 5 | 8.1% |
| Interference | 2 | 3.2% |
| Privacy | 2 | 3.2% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
A total of 547 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 57.6% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (888) 431-1352 | 5 | 0.9% |
| (727) 295-4557 | 4 | 0.7% |
| (207) 706-8885 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (951) 277-6970 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (707) 555-9000 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (817) 409-7661 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (833) 304-1447 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (202) 459-4675 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (203) 463-5132 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (206) 247-7718 | 1 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- All unwanted call complaints with a recorded service type related to None.
- Abandoned Calls was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (888) 431-1352 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- 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.