FCC Consumer Complaints – 18 January 2016
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 737 consumer complaints on 18 January 2016 relating to telecommunications services, this was higher than the 308 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 47 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
- 737
- States & territories reporting
- 47
- Most common issue
- Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) (249)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (79)
Where the complaints came from
On 18 January 2016, the 737 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 527 cities across 47 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 | 79 | 10.7% |
| Florida | 63 | 8.5% |
| Texas | 60 | 8.1% |
| New York | 40 | 5.4% |
| Georgia | 37 | 5.0% |
| Virginia | 35 | 4.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 30 | 4.1% |
| Illinois | 27 | 3.7% |
| Michigan | 24 | 3.3% |
| Tennessee | 23 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 319 | 43.3% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 5 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 487 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 487 | 66.1% |
| Internet | 128 | 17.4% |
| TV | 103 | 14.0% |
| Emergency | 10 | 1.4% |
| Radio | 9 | 1.2% |
Phone complaints
487 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 66.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) | 249 | 51.1% |
| Robocalls | 117 | 24.0% |
| Billing | 49 | 10.1% |
| Privacy | 16 | 3.3% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 13 | 2.7% |
| Equipment | 12 | 2.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 11 | 2.3% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 8 | 1.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 6 | 1.2% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 3 | 0.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 2 | 0.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.2% |
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
128 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 17.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 47 | 36.7% |
| Speed | 27 | 21.1% |
| Availability | 21 | 16.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 17 | 13.3% |
| Privacy | 10 | 7.8% |
| Interference | 4 | 3.1% |
| Equipment | 2 | 1.6% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Speed and Availability.
TV complaints
103 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 41 | 39.8% |
| Availability | 19 | 18.4% |
| Loud Commercials | 16 | 15.5% |
| Equipment | 10 | 9.7% |
| Indecency | 10 | 9.7% |
| Interference | 3 | 2.9% |
| Privacy | 3 | 2.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 1.0% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Loud Commercials.
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.