FCC Consumer Complaints – 18 August 2015
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 1333 consumer complaints on 18 August 2015 relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume increased from 1149 complaints the previous day. The complaints came from 52 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) was the most frequently reported issue, with 485 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1333
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) (485)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (150)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 18 August 2015 show 1333 complaints originating from 892 cities across 52 states and territories. Activity was spread across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a substantial share of complaints. 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 | 150 | 11.3% |
| Florida | 112 | 8.4% |
| Texas | 96 | 7.2% |
| Georgia | 73 | 5.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 60 | 4.5% |
| Maryland | 58 | 4.4% |
| New York | 57 | 4.3% |
| Illinois | 56 | 4.2% |
| Ohio | 47 | 3.5% |
| New Jersey | 45 | 3.4% |
| Other states and territories | 575 | 43.1% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 948 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 948 | 71.1% |
| Internet | 234 | 17.6% |
| TV | 118 | 8.9% |
| Radio | 28 | 2.1% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.2% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
948 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 71.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) | 485 | 51.2% |
| Robocalls | 175 | 18.5% |
| Billing | 106 | 11.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 44 | 4.6% |
| Equipment | 33 | 3.5% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 33 | 3.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 32 | 3.4% |
| Privacy | 17 | 1.8% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 10 | 1.1% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.5% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 4 | 0.4% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 3 | 0.3% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) and Robocalls, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
234 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 17.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 78 | 33.3% |
| Availability | 36 | 15.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 34 | 14.5% |
| Speed | 34 | 14.5% |
| Privacy | 25 | 10.7% |
| Interference | 16 | 6.8% |
| Equipment | 11 | 4.7% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Open Internet/Net Neutrality.
TV complaints
118 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 54 | 45.8% |
| Availability | 26 | 22.0% |
| Equipment | 11 | 9.3% |
| Indecency | 7 | 5.9% |
| Interference | 7 | 5.9% |
| Loud Commercials | 7 | 5.9% |
| Privacy | 5 | 4.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.8% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
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.