FCC Consumer Complaints – 5 August 2021
Introduction
A total of 950 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday, 5 August 2021, complaint volume increased from 928 complaints the previous day. 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 519 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 950
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (519)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (100)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 5 August 2021 show 950 complaints originating from 584 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location 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 table below summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 100 | 10.5% |
| Texas | 97 | 10.2% |
| Florida | 89 | 9.4% |
| New York | 60 | 6.3% |
| Arizona | 40 | 4.2% |
| Virginia | 32 | 3.4% |
| Illinois | 31 | 3.3% |
| Massachusetts | 30 | 3.2% |
| North Carolina | 30 | 3.2% |
| New Jersey | 27 | 2.8% |
| Other states and territories | 411 | 43.3% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 8 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 717 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 717 | 75.5% |
| Internet | 148 | 15.6% |
| TV | 61 | 6.4% |
| Radio | 11 | 1.2% |
| Emergency | 5 | 0.5% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.3% |
| Broadband Story | 3 | 0.3% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 2 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
717 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 75.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 519 | 72.4% |
| Billing | 60 | 8.4% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 49 | 6.8% |
| Equipment | 38 | 5.3% |
| Junk Faxes | 17 | 2.4% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 13 | 1.8% |
| Privacy | 10 | 1.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 0.8% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 2 | 0.3% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 2 | 0.3% |
| Rural Call Completion | 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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
148 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 52 | 35.1% |
| Billing | 48 | 32.4% |
| Speed | 21 | 14.2% |
| Interference | 10 | 6.8% |
| Equipment | 9 | 6.1% |
| Privacy | 8 | 5.4% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
61 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 27 | 44.3% |
| Availability | 13 | 21.3% |
| Indecency | 10 | 16.4% |
| Equipment | 5 | 8.2% |
| Loud Commercials | 4 | 6.6% |
| Interference | 2 | 3.3% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
There were 519 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 54.6% 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 | 6 | 1.2% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 3 | 0.6% |
| (860) 955-4215 | 3 | 0.6% |
| (208) 286-2678 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (281) 606-2016 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (315) 232-8257 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (336) 297-6010 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (346) 481-0562 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (364) 200-8613 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (623) 663-1646 | 2 | 0.4% |
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.
- (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.