FCC Consumer Complaints – 20 August 2021
Introduction
A total of 1037 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 20 August 2021, this was lower than the 1141 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 52 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 627 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1037
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (627)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (101)
Where the complaints came from
A total of 1037 complaints were recorded on 20 August 2021, with reports originating from 712 cities in 52 states and territories. Complaints were spread broadly across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a significant share. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 101 | 9.7% |
| Florida | 82 | 7.9% |
| Texas | 77 | 7.4% |
| Georgia | 62 | 6.0% |
| New York | 44 | 4.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 42 | 4.1% |
| Ohio | 39 | 3.8% |
| North Carolina | 37 | 3.6% |
| New Jersey | 37 | 3.6% |
| Illinois | 34 | 3.3% |
| Other states and territories | 480 | 46.3% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 5 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 838 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 838 | 80.8% |
| Internet | 119 | 11.5% |
| TV | 62 | 6.0% |
| Radio | 13 | 1.3% |
| Accessibility | 5 | 0.5% |
Phone complaints
838 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 80.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 627 | 74.8% |
| Billing | 56 | 6.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 53 | 6.3% |
| Equipment | 30 | 3.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 26 | 3.1% |
| Privacy | 26 | 3.1% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 10 | 1.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 4 | 0.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 4 | 0.5% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 2 | 0.2% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
119 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 43 | 36.1% |
| Billing | 43 | 36.1% |
| Speed | 11 | 9.2% |
| Interference | 10 | 8.4% |
| Equipment | 8 | 6.7% |
| Privacy | 4 | 3.4% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
62 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 19 | 30.6% |
| Availability | 17 | 27.4% |
| Loud Commercials | 12 | 19.4% |
| Equipment | 6 | 9.7% |
| Indecency | 5 | 8.1% |
| Interference | 2 | 3.2% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.6% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Loud Commercials.
Unwanted calls
There were 627 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 60.5% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (203) 726-3979 | 5 | 0.8% |
| (513) 541-8000 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (442) 212-9729 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (818) 900-9904 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (202) 773-6603 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (202) 998-1756 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (205) 908-1627 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (206) 901-5534 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (208) 266-2689 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (208) 271-9069 | 1 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- None accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by service type.
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (203) 726-3979 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.