FCC Consumer Complaints – 13 September 2021
Introduction
A total of 927 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Monday, 13 September 2021, this represented an increase from the 340 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 49 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 508 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 927
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (508)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (106)
Where the complaints came from
On 13 September 2021, the 927 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 605 cities across 49 states and territories. Activity was spread across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a substantial share of complaints. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
The table below shows the distribution of complaints by state and territory for this date, highlighting the locations with the highest number of reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 106 | 11.4% |
| Florida | 74 | 8.0% |
| Texas | 71 | 7.7% |
| New York | 55 | 5.9% |
| North Carolina | 41 | 4.4% |
| Georgia | 38 | 4.1% |
| Illinois | 36 | 3.9% |
| Michigan | 35 | 3.8% |
| Virginia | 31 | 3.3% |
| Arizona | 27 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 413 | 44.6% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 698 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 698 | 75.3% |
| Internet | 135 | 14.6% |
| TV | 78 | 8.4% |
| Radio | 14 | 1.5% |
| Broadband Story | 1 | 0.1% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
698 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 75.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 508 | 72.8% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 50 | 7.2% |
| Billing | 49 | 7.0% |
| Equipment | 41 | 5.9% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 18 | 2.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 12 | 1.7% |
| Privacy | 9 | 1.3% |
| Junk Faxes | 7 | 1.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 3 | 0.4% |
| 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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Availability (including rural call completion), Billing and Equipment.
Internet complaints
135 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 49 | 36.3% |
| Billing | 47 | 34.8% |
| Speed | 19 | 14.1% |
| Interference | 10 | 7.4% |
| Equipment | 5 | 3.7% |
| Privacy | 5 | 3.7% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
78 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 23 | 29.5% |
| Availability | 16 | 20.5% |
| Indecency | 15 | 19.2% |
| Loud Commercials | 13 | 16.7% |
| Equipment | 6 | 7.7% |
| Interference | 3 | 3.8% |
| Privacy | 2 | 2.6% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Indecency.
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.