FCC Consumer Complaints – 7 October 2015

Introduction

On Wednesday, 7 October 2015, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1328 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented an increase from the 1321 complaints recorded 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 554 complaints.

Key statistics

Total complaints
1328
States & territories reporting
52
Most common issue
Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) (554)
Most reported state/territory
California (154)

Where the complaints came from

A total of 1328 complaints were recorded on 7 October 2015, with reports originating from 857 cities in 52 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory 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 154 11.6%
New York 110 8.3%
Florida 109 8.2%
Texas 103 7.8%
Maryland 62 4.7%
Pennsylvania 62 4.7%
Virginia 54 4.1%
Georgia 49 3.7%
Illinois 45 3.4%
New Jersey 41 3.1%
Other states and territories 539 40.6%

What the complaints were about

The complaints recorded on this date fell into 6 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 1003 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 1003 75.5%
Internet 143 10.8%
TV 135 10.2%
Radio 43 3.2%
Accessibility 2 0.2%
Emergency 2 0.2%

Phone complaints

1003 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 75.5% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) 554 55.2%
Robocalls 221 22.0%
Billing 75 7.5%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 42 4.2%
Availability (including rural call completion) 31 3.1%
Privacy 31 3.1%
Equipment 22 2.2%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 13 1.3%
Junk Faxes 8 0.8%
Interference (including signal jammers) 3 0.3%
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 2 0.2%
Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) 1 0.1%

Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) and Robocalls accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.

Internet complaints

143 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.8% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 49 34.3%
Availability 24 16.8%
Speed 19 13.3%
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 17 11.9%
Privacy 17 11.9%
Interference 13 9.1%
Equipment 4 2.8%

The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Speed.

TV complaints

135 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.2% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 56 41.5%
Indecency 28 20.7%
Availability 25 18.5%
Equipment 13 9.6%
Loud Commercials 7 5.2%
Interference 4 3.0%
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 1 0.7%
Privacy 1 0.7%

Billing and Indecency accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.

Radio complaints

43 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 3.2% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Interference 29 67.4%
Availability 6 14.0%
Pirate Radio 4 9.3%
Indecency 2 4.7%
Billing 1 2.3%
Commercials/Promotions 1 2.3%

Interference and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.

Page last updated: 10 December 2018 with FCC complaints data from 7 October 2015.

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.