FCC Consumer Complaints – 25 October 2016
Introduction
On 25 October 2016, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1210 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented an increase from the 1082 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 52 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Unwanted Calls recorded a slightly higher number of complaints than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1210
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (457)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (138)
Where the complaints came from
A total of 1210 complaints were recorded on 25 October 2016, with reports originating from 792 cities in 52 states and territories. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. 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 | 138 | 11.4% |
| Florida | 129 | 10.7% |
| Texas | 82 | 6.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 60 | 5.0% |
| New York | 55 | 4.5% |
| Illinois | 44 | 3.6% |
| Michigan | 39 | 3.2% |
| Colorado | 37 | 3.1% |
| Georgia | 37 | 3.1% |
| Maryland | 37 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 547 | 45.2% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 6 different complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 728 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 728 | 60.2% |
| Internet | 293 | 24.2% |
| TV | 158 | 13.1% |
| Radio | 28 | 2.3% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
728 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 60.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 457 | 62.8% |
| Billing | 125 | 17.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 33 | 4.5% |
| Equipment | 33 | 4.5% |
| Privacy | 21 | 2.9% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 19 | 2.6% |
| Junk Faxes | 14 | 1.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 10 | 1.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 7 | 1.0% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 5 | 0.7% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 2 | 0.3% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
293 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 24.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 98 | 33.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 98 | 33.4% |
| Availability | 49 | 16.7% |
| Speed | 24 | 8.2% |
| Equipment | 9 | 3.1% |
| Privacy | 8 | 2.7% |
| Interference | 7 | 2.4% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Open Internet/Net Neutrality, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
158 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 92 | 58.2% |
| Availability | 20 | 12.7% |
| Indecency | 15 | 9.5% |
| Equipment | 13 | 8.2% |
| Loud Commercials | 9 | 5.7% |
| Interference | 4 | 2.5% |
| Privacy | 3 | 1.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 1.3% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
There were 457 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 37.8% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact number details are listed below where there is enough concentration to make the data meaningful.
Most reported caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (504) 517-1286 | 5 | 1.1% |
| (571) 933-2121 | 5 | 1.1% |
| (202) 864-2977 | 4 | 0.9% |
| (305) 998-0728 | 4 | 0.9% |
| (575) 534-9803 | 4 | 0.9% |
| (217) 497-5726 | 3 | 0.7% |
| (678) 618-7449 | 3 | 0.7% |
| (816) 935-2774 | 3 | 0.7% |
| (260) 246-1992 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (270) 997-4067 | 2 | 0.4% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
- Several caller ID numbers were reported multiple times, with no single number clearly ahead of the others.
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.