FCC Consumer Complaints – 18 September 2015
Introduction
On 18 September 2015, 1183 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, complaint volume fell from 1432 complaints the day before. Complaints were reported across 52 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing), with 472 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1183
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) (472)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (140)
Where the complaints came from
Across 780 cities in 52 states and territories, a total of 1183 complaints were recorded on 18 September 2015. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant share. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
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 | 140 | 11.8% |
| Florida | 87 | 7.4% |
| Texas | 70 | 5.9% |
| New York | 66 | 5.6% |
| Illinois | 61 | 5.2% |
| Georgia | 59 | 5.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 45 | 3.8% |
| New Jersey | 43 | 3.6% |
| Missouri | 42 | 3.6% |
| Maryland | 39 | 3.3% |
| Other states and territories | 531 | 44.9% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 871 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 871 | 73.6% |
| Internet | 174 | 14.7% |
| TV | 104 | 8.8% |
| Radio | 27 | 2.3% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.3% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.3% |
Phone complaints
871 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 73.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) | 472 | 54.2% |
| Robocalls | 202 | 23.2% |
| Billing | 57 | 6.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 40 | 4.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 29 | 3.3% |
| Equipment | 25 | 2.9% |
| Privacy | 17 | 2.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 14 | 1.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 7 | 0.8% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 0.3% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 3 | 0.3% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 0.2% |
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
174 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 49 | 28.2% |
| Availability | 35 | 20.1% |
| Speed | 35 | 20.1% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 17 | 9.8% |
| Privacy | 15 | 8.6% |
| Interference | 12 | 6.9% |
| Equipment | 11 | 6.3% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability and Speed among the most common.
TV complaints
104 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 49 | 47.1% |
| Equipment | 16 | 15.4% |
| Loud Commercials | 15 | 14.4% |
| Availability | 14 | 13.5% |
| Interference | 5 | 4.8% |
| Indecency | 4 | 3.8% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 1.0% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Equipment, 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.