FCC Consumer Complaints – 22 September 2021
Introduction
A total of 971 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 22 September 2021, this was higher than the 942 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 51 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 554 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 971
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (554)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (108)
Where the complaints came from
The 971 complaints recorded on 22 September 2021 were submitted from 619 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant share. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
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 | 108 | 11.1% |
| Texas | 79 | 8.1% |
| Florida | 62 | 6.4% |
| New York | 49 | 5.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 43 | 4.4% |
| Colorado | 40 | 4.1% |
| Ohio | 40 | 4.1% |
| North Carolina | 32 | 3.3% |
| Virginia | 32 | 3.3% |
| Illinois | 30 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 454 | 46.8% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 8 different complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 734 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 734 | 75.6% |
| Internet | 151 | 15.6% |
| TV | 58 | 6.0% |
| Radio | 14 | 1.4% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 6 | 0.6% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.4% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.3% |
| Broadband Story | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
734 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 75.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 554 | 75.5% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 51 | 6.9% |
| Billing | 45 | 6.1% |
| Equipment | 38 | 5.2% |
| Junk Faxes | 15 | 2.0% |
| Privacy | 13 | 1.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 7 | 1.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 4 | 0.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 4 | 0.5% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 2 | 0.3% |
| Rural Call Completion | 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 Availability (including rural call completion), Billing and Equipment among the most common.
Internet complaints
151 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 64 | 42.4% |
| Billing | 50 | 33.1% |
| Speed | 17 | 11.3% |
| Equipment | 7 | 4.6% |
| Privacy | 7 | 4.6% |
| Interference | 6 | 4.0% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
58 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 17 | 29.3% |
| Billing | 16 | 27.6% |
| Indecency | 10 | 17.2% |
| Loud Commercials | 9 | 15.5% |
| Equipment | 3 | 5.2% |
| Interference | 3 | 5.2% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Availability, Billing and Indecency among the most common.
Unwanted calls
There were 554 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 57.1% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (951) 797-1287 | 7 | 1.3% |
| (844) 633-3546 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (718) 915-6800 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (725) 241-9229 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (833) 689-0374 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (855) 681-1394 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (877) 919-1702 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (999) 999-9999 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (202) 367-9188 | 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.
- (951) 797-1287 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.