FCC Consumer Complaints – 9 September 2016
Introduction
A total of 1354 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Friday, 9 September 2016, complaint volume increased from 1283 complaints the day before. Reports were received from 51 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
- 1354
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) (463)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (173)
Where the complaints came from
A total of 1354 complaints were recorded on 9 September 2016, with reports originating from 829 cities in 51 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location 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 distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 173 | 12.8% |
| Texas | 132 | 9.7% |
| Ohio | 106 | 7.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 91 | 6.7% |
| Florida | 73 | 5.4% |
| New York | 67 | 4.9% |
| Maryland | 61 | 4.5% |
| Michigan | 42 | 3.1% |
| Illinois | 39 | 2.9% |
| Virginia | 39 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 531 | 39.2% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 1041 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1041 | 76.9% |
| Internet | 159 | 11.7% |
| TV | 110 | 8.1% |
| Radio | 40 | 3.0% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.1% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
1041 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 76.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) | 463 | 44.5% |
| Robocalls | 308 | 29.6% |
| Billing | 125 | 12.0% |
| Equipment | 40 | 3.8% |
| Privacy | 30 | 2.9% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 23 | 2.2% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 19 | 1.8% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 11 | 1.1% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 9 | 0.9% |
| Junk Faxes | 9 | 0.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 4 | 0.4% |
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
159 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 46 | 28.9% |
| Availability | 33 | 20.8% |
| Privacy | 24 | 15.1% |
| Speed | 23 | 14.5% |
| Interference | 13 | 8.2% |
| Equipment | 11 | 6.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 9 | 5.7% |
Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability and Privacy.
TV complaints
110 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 51 | 46.4% |
| Availability | 21 | 19.1% |
| Equipment | 14 | 12.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 11 | 10.0% |
| Indecency | 6 | 5.5% |
| Interference | 3 | 2.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 3 | 2.7% |
| Privacy | 1 | 0.9% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Radio complaints
40 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 3.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Interference | 25 | 62.5% |
| Indecency | 4 | 10.0% |
| Pirate Radio | 4 | 10.0% |
| Availability | 3 | 7.5% |
| Equipment | 2 | 5.0% |
| Billing | 1 | 2.5% |
| Commercials/Promotions | 1 | 2.5% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Interference and Indecency, 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.