FCC Consumer Complaints – 11 November 2016
Introduction
On 11 November 2016, 659 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this represented a decline from the 807 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 48 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 320 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 659
- States & territories reporting
- 48
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (320)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (84)
Where the complaints came from
On 11 November 2016, the 659 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 482 cities across 48 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant share. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
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 | 84 | 12.7% |
| Florida | 56 | 8.5% |
| Texas | 39 | 5.9% |
| Maryland | 31 | 4.7% |
| New York | 27 | 4.1% |
| Illinois | 25 | 3.8% |
| North Carolina | 24 | 3.6% |
| Ohio | 24 | 3.6% |
| Georgia | 23 | 3.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 23 | 3.5% |
| Other states and territories | 303 | 46.0% |
Location highlight
California had the widest distribution of complaints, with reports originating from 58 different cities.
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 5 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 433 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 433 | 65.7% |
| Internet | 118 | 17.9% |
| TV | 81 | 12.3% |
| Radio | 26 | 3.9% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
433 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 65.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 320 | 73.9% |
| Billing | 48 | 11.1% |
| Equipment | 15 | 3.5% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 14 | 3.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 13 | 3.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 1.6% |
| Junk Faxes | 6 | 1.4% |
| Privacy | 6 | 1.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 1 | 0.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.2% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.2% |
| 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 Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers).
Internet complaints
118 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 17.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 41 | 34.7% |
| Availability | 25 | 21.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 17 | 14.4% |
| Speed | 15 | 12.7% |
| Interference | 11 | 9.3% |
| Equipment | 5 | 4.2% |
| Privacy | 4 | 3.4% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Open Internet/Net Neutrality.
TV complaints
81 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 41 | 50.6% |
| Availability | 14 | 17.3% |
| Indecency | 11 | 13.6% |
| Equipment | 8 | 9.9% |
| Loud Commercials | 5 | 6.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 1.2% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.2% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
There were 320 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 48.6% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (603) 452-7279 | 7 | 2.2% |
| (978) 893-5017 | 4 | 1.3% |
| (718) 559-4093 | 3 | 0.9% |
| (212) 779-4553 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (216) 324-4092 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (239) 491-0442 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (254) 522-7539 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (315) 282-9192 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (385) 383-0007 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (518) 265-9200 | 2 | 0.6% |
Key patterns
- Live Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
- (603) 452-7279 was reported slightly more often than other caller ID numbers.
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.