FCC Consumer Complaints – 7 December 2016
Introduction
A total of 955 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 7 December 2016, this represented an increase from the 943 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 52 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 460 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 955
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (460)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (104)
Where the complaints came from
The 955 complaints recorded on 7 December 2016 were submitted from 661 cities across 52 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 | 104 | 10.9% |
| Texas | 79 | 8.3% |
| Florida | 66 | 6.9% |
| New York | 60 | 6.3% |
| Maryland | 56 | 5.9% |
| Ohio | 38 | 4.0% |
| Illinois | 37 | 3.9% |
| Georgia | 35 | 3.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 35 | 3.7% |
| Virginia | 33 | 3.5% |
| Other states and territories | 408 | 42.7% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 4 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 669 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 669 | 70.1% |
| Internet | 137 | 14.3% |
| TV | 106 | 11.1% |
| Radio | 43 | 4.5% |
Phone complaints
669 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 70.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 460 | 68.8% |
| Billing | 100 | 14.9% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 28 | 4.2% |
| Equipment | 20 | 3.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 14 | 2.1% |
| Junk Faxes | 13 | 1.9% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 13 | 1.9% |
| Privacy | 11 | 1.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 0.3% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 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
137 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 56 | 40.9% |
| Availability | 25 | 18.2% |
| Speed | 21 | 15.3% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 14 | 10.2% |
| Equipment | 10 | 7.3% |
| Interference | 6 | 4.4% |
| Privacy | 5 | 3.6% |
Billing was the most commonly reported issue in this category, while other issues occurred less frequently.
TV complaints
106 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 52 | 49.1% |
| Availability | 20 | 18.9% |
| Equipment | 13 | 12.3% |
| Indecency | 8 | 7.5% |
| Loud Commercials | 7 | 6.6% |
| Privacy | 3 | 2.8% |
| Interference | 2 | 1.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.9% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Radio complaints
43 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 4.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Interference | 30 | 69.8% |
| Pirate Radio | 7 | 16.3% |
| Indecency | 4 | 9.3% |
| Billing | 1 | 2.3% |
| Equipment | 1 | 2.3% |
Interference and Pirate Radio were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
There were 460 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 48.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (912) 315-0338 | 5 | 1.1% |
| (855) 653-4481 | 4 | 0.9% |
| (888) 727-1127 | 4 | 0.9% |
| (209) 473-3833 | 3 | 0.7% |
| (303) 617-7478 | 3 | 0.7% |
| (607) 664-0101 | 3 | 0.7% |
| (830) 468-4107 | 3 | 0.7% |
| (847) 266-8015 | 3 | 0.7% |
| (917) 722-7747 | 3 | 0.7% |
| (210) 503-1458 | 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.
- (912) 315-0338 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.