FCC Consumer Complaints – 31 October 2016
Introduction
A total of 901 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Monday, 31 October 2016, this represented an increase from the 388 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 49 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
- 901
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (347)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (111)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 31 October 2016 show 901 complaints originating from 583 cities across 49 states and territories. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
The table below summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 111 | 12.3% |
| Florida | 88 | 9.8% |
| Texas | 78 | 8.7% |
| New York | 44 | 4.9% |
| Washington | 40 | 4.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 38 | 4.2% |
| Georgia | 32 | 3.6% |
| Ohio | 32 | 3.6% |
| Maryland | 30 | 3.3% |
| Illinois | 29 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 376 | 41.7% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 552 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 552 | 61.3% |
| Internet | 199 | 22.1% |
| TV | 118 | 13.1% |
| Radio | 21 | 2.3% |
| Accessibility | 6 | 0.7% |
| Emergency | 5 | 0.6% |
Phone complaints
552 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 61.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 347 | 62.9% |
| Billing | 100 | 18.1% |
| Equipment | 22 | 4.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 19 | 3.4% |
| Privacy | 17 | 3.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 16 | 2.9% |
| Junk Faxes | 12 | 2.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 9 | 1.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 0.4% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.2% |
As is typical for this category, unwanted calls accounted for the largest share of complaints. A more detailed analysis of these reports is provided in the section below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).
Internet complaints
199 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 22.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 70 | 35.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 47 | 23.6% |
| Availability | 35 | 17.6% |
| Speed | 16 | 8.0% |
| Interference | 11 | 5.5% |
| Privacy | 11 | 5.5% |
| Equipment | 9 | 4.5% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Open Internet/Net Neutrality and Availability.
TV complaints
118 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 62 | 52.5% |
| Equipment | 15 | 12.7% |
| Indecency | 14 | 11.9% |
| Loud Commercials | 9 | 7.6% |
| Availability | 7 | 5.9% |
| Privacy | 7 | 5.9% |
| Interference | 4 | 3.4% |
Billing and Equipment accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
There were 347 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 38.5% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (850) 692-8796 | 14 | 4.0% |
| (216) 254-5233 | 4 | 1.2% |
| (813) 728-8615 | 4 | 1.2% |
| (352) 585-1708 | 3 | 0.9% |
| (720) 639-8879 | 3 | 0.9% |
| (210) 549-6976 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (260) 517-3817 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (281) 715-3431 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (310) 424-7999 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (312) 690-7699 | 2 | 0.6% |
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.
- (850) 692-8796 stood out as the most frequently reported caller ID number.
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.