FCC Consumer Complaints – 8 September 2016
Introduction
A total of 1283 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday, 8 September 2016, this represented a decline from the 1347 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 51 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) recorded a slightly higher number of complaints than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1283
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) (417)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (146)
Where the complaints came from
Across 831 cities in 51 states and territories, a total of 1283 complaints were recorded on 8 September 2016. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. 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 | 146 | 11.4% |
| Texas | 109 | 8.5% |
| Florida | 90 | 7.0% |
| New York | 65 | 5.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 65 | 5.1% |
| Virginia | 51 | 4.0% |
| Maryland | 49 | 3.8% |
| Georgia | 48 | 3.7% |
| Ohio | 47 | 3.7% |
| Washington | 40 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 569 | 44.3% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 957 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 957 | 74.6% |
| Internet | 150 | 11.7% |
| TV | 120 | 9.4% |
| Radio | 47 | 3.7% |
| Accessibility | 5 | 0.4% |
| Emergency | 4 | 0.3% |
Phone complaints
957 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 74.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) | 417 | 43.6% |
| Robocalls | 300 | 31.3% |
| Billing | 95 | 9.9% |
| Privacy | 37 | 3.9% |
| Equipment | 25 | 2.6% |
| Junk Faxes | 23 | 2.4% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 20 | 2.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 18 | 1.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 12 | 1.3% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 8 | 0.8% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 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
150 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 49 | 32.7% |
| Availability | 35 | 23.3% |
| Speed | 26 | 17.3% |
| Equipment | 14 | 9.3% |
| Interference | 12 | 8.0% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 8 | 5.3% |
| Privacy | 6 | 4.0% |
Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability and Speed.
TV complaints
120 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 69 | 57.5% |
| Availability | 20 | 16.7% |
| Equipment | 9 | 7.5% |
| Loud Commercials | 9 | 7.5% |
| Indecency | 6 | 5.0% |
| Interference | 5 | 4.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.8% |
| Privacy | 1 | 0.8% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Radio complaints
47 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 3.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Interference | 38 | 80.9% |
| Commercials/Promotions | 3 | 6.4% |
| Billing | 2 | 4.3% |
| Pirate Radio | 2 | 4.3% |
| Equipment | 1 | 2.1% |
| Indecency | 1 | 2.1% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Interference and Commercials/Promotions, 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.