FCC Consumer Complaints – 22 November 2016
Introduction
A total of 897 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, 22 November 2016, this represented an increase from the 865 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
- 897
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (370)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (106)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 22 November 2016 show 897 complaints originating from 645 cities across 52 states and territories. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. 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 | 106 | 11.8% |
| Florida | 70 | 7.8% |
| Maryland | 55 | 6.1% |
| Texas | 55 | 6.1% |
| Illinois | 42 | 4.7% |
| New York | 40 | 4.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 40 | 4.5% |
| Georgia | 32 | 3.6% |
| Virginia | 29 | 3.2% |
| Ohio | 27 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 396 | 44.1% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 559 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 559 | 62.3% |
| Internet | 162 | 18.1% |
| TV | 120 | 13.4% |
| Radio | 46 | 5.1% |
| Accessibility | 6 | 0.7% |
| Emergency | 4 | 0.4% |
Phone complaints
559 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 62.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 370 | 66.2% |
| Billing | 98 | 17.5% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 23 | 4.1% |
| Equipment | 22 | 3.9% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 13 | 2.3% |
| Privacy | 9 | 1.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 8 | 1.4% |
| Junk Faxes | 8 | 1.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 1.1% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.2% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.2% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
162 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 18.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 56 | 34.6% |
| Availability | 30 | 18.5% |
| Speed | 21 | 13.0% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 17 | 10.5% |
| Privacy | 14 | 8.6% |
| Equipment | 12 | 7.4% |
| Interference | 12 | 7.4% |
Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability and Speed.
TV complaints
120 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 63 | 52.5% |
| Equipment | 18 | 15.0% |
| Indecency | 16 | 13.3% |
| Availability | 10 | 8.3% |
| Interference | 7 | 5.8% |
| Loud Commercials | 4 | 3.3% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.7% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Equipment, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Radio complaints
46 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 5.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Interference | 35 | 76.1% |
| Indecency | 6 | 13.0% |
| Equipment | 2 | 4.3% |
| Availability | 1 | 2.2% |
| Billing | 1 | 2.2% |
| Pirate Radio | 1 | 2.2% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Interference and Indecency, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
There were 370 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 41.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (619) 363-9143 | 5 | 1.4% |
| (256) 542-0702 | 4 | 1.1% |
| (561) 436-7914 | 4 | 1.1% |
| (855) 328-6700 | 4 | 1.1% |
| (202) 407-9577 | 3 | 0.8% |
| (312) 586-7085 | 3 | 0.8% |
| (330) 954-0771 | 3 | 0.8% |
| (201) 754-1394 | 2 | 0.5% |
| (214) 980-7001 | 2 | 0.5% |
| (302) 492-1157 | 2 | 0.5% |
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.
- (619) 363-9143 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.