FCC Consumer Complaints – 13 January 2016
Introduction
A total of 1150 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday, 13 January 2016, this represented a decline from the 1176 complaints recorded the previous day. The complaints came from 50 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) recorded a slightly higher number of complaints than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1150
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) (370)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (148)
Where the complaints came from
The 1150 complaints recorded on 13 January 2016 were submitted from 769 cities across 50 states and territories. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large share of reports. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
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 | 148 | 12.9% |
| Texas | 86 | 7.5% |
| Florida | 80 | 7.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 62 | 5.4% |
| New York | 57 | 5.0% |
| Georgia | 47 | 4.1% |
| Virginia | 47 | 4.1% |
| Illinois | 46 | 4.0% |
| New Jersey | 38 | 3.3% |
| Tennessee | 38 | 3.3% |
| Other states and territories | 494 | 43.0% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 835 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 835 | 72.6% |
| Internet | 190 | 16.5% |
| TV | 108 | 9.4% |
| Radio | 11 | 1.0% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.3% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
835 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 72.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) | 370 | 44.3% |
| Robocalls | 220 | 26.3% |
| Billing | 107 | 12.8% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 26 | 3.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 25 | 3.0% |
| Privacy | 25 | 3.0% |
| Equipment | 23 | 2.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 20 | 2.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 11 | 1.3% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.6% |
| 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 were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Internet complaints
190 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 16.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 45 | 23.7% |
| Speed | 42 | 22.1% |
| Availability | 28 | 14.7% |
| Privacy | 26 | 13.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 21 | 11.1% |
| Interference | 20 | 10.5% |
| Equipment | 8 | 4.2% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Speed and Availability.
TV complaints
108 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 55 | 50.9% |
| Availability | 31 | 28.7% |
| Indecency | 8 | 7.4% |
| Loud Commercials | 6 | 5.6% |
| Equipment | 4 | 3.7% |
| Interference | 4 | 3.7% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
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.