FCC Consumer Complaints – 27 January 2017

Introduction

A total of 1104 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 27 January 2017, complaint volume increased from 1077 complaints the previous day. The complaints came from 50 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 593 complaints recorded.

Key statistics

Total complaints
1104
States & territories reporting
50
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (593)
Most reported state/territory
California (127)

Where the complaints came from

Across 736 cities in 50 states and territories, a total of 1104 complaints were recorded on 27 January 2017. Complaint reports were spread across multiple states and territories, without any one location accounting for a large 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 127 11.5%
Florida 87 7.9%
Texas 79 7.2%
New Jersey 76 6.9%
New York 64 5.8%
Pennsylvania 64 5.8%
Illinois 42 3.8%
Michigan 38 3.4%
Georgia 37 3.4%
Maryland 35 3.2%
Other states and territories 453 41.0%

What the complaints were about

The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 814 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 814 73.7%
Internet 177 16.0%
TV 94 8.5%
Radio 17 1.5%
Accessibility 1 0.1%
Emergency 1 0.1%

Phone complaints

814 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 73.7% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 593 72.9%
Billing 103 12.7%
Equipment 28 3.4%
Availability (including rural call completion) 27 3.3%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 22 2.7%
Privacy 15 1.8%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 10 1.2%
Interference (including signal jammers) 10 1.2%
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 3 0.4%
Junk Faxes 2 0.2%
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, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).

Internet complaints

177 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 16.0% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 72 40.7%
Availability 31 17.5%
Speed 30 16.9%
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 22 12.4%
Privacy 9 5.1%
Interference 8 4.5%
Equipment 5 2.8%

Billing represented the largest share of complaints recorded in this category, with lower volumes reported across the remaining issues.

TV complaints

94 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.5% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 58 61.7%
Availability 21 22.3%
Equipment 7 7.4%
Privacy 4 4.3%
Interference 3 3.2%
Indecency 1 1.1%

Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.

Unwanted calls

A total of 593 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 53.7% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact numbers are shown below where sufficient data is available.

Most reported caller ID numbers

Telephone number Complaints Share
(423) 352-9090 10 1.7%
(803) 875-0740 8 1.3%
(215) 621-8349 3 0.5%
(248) 327-4874 3 0.5%
(347) 527-7523 3 0.5%
(402) 322-4045 3 0.5%
(510) 581-5084 3 0.5%
(610) 605-8132 3 0.5%
(650) 729-8232 3 0.5%
(805) 678-1703 3 0.5%

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.
  • (423) 352-9090 was reported slightly more often than other caller ID numbers.
Page last updated: 10 December 2018 with FCC complaints data from 27 January 2017.

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.