FCC Consumer Complaints – 4 January 2016
Introduction
A total of 832 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Monday, 4 January 2016, complaint volume increased from 313 complaints the previous day. Reports were received from 48 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) was reported slightly more frequently than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 832
- States & territories reporting
- 48
- Most common issue
- Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) (218)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (93)
Where the complaints came from
On 4 January 2016, the 832 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 592 cities across 48 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 93 | 11.2% |
| Florida | 79 | 9.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 54 | 6.5% |
| Texas | 45 | 5.4% |
| New York | 44 | 5.3% |
| Georgia | 32 | 3.8% |
| Maryland | 30 | 3.6% |
| Virginia | 30 | 3.6% |
| North Carolina | 29 | 3.5% |
| Colorado | 26 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 367 | 44.1% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 548 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 548 | 65.9% |
| Internet | 175 | 21.0% |
| TV | 92 | 11.1% |
| Radio | 12 | 1.4% |
| Emergency | 4 | 0.5% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
548 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 65.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) | 218 | 39.8% |
| Robocalls | 129 | 23.5% |
| Billing | 83 | 15.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 47 | 8.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 22 | 4.0% |
| Equipment | 18 | 3.3% |
| Privacy | 15 | 2.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 8 | 1.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 2 | 0.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 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
175 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 21.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 67 | 38.3% |
| Availability | 31 | 17.7% |
| Speed | 31 | 17.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 21 | 12.0% |
| Privacy | 13 | 7.4% |
| Equipment | 6 | 3.4% |
| Interference | 5 | 2.9% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Speed.
TV complaints
92 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 42 | 45.7% |
| Availability | 23 | 25.0% |
| Equipment | 8 | 8.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 7 | 7.6% |
| Indecency | 5 | 5.4% |
| Interference | 5 | 5.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 1.1% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.1% |
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.