FCC Consumer Complaints – 3 February 2017
Introduction
On Friday, 3 February 2017, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1103 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume increased from 1088 complaints the day before. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 606 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1103
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (606)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (128)
Where the complaints came from
The 1103 complaints recorded on 3 February 2017 were submitted from 743 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. 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 | 128 | 11.6% |
| Florida | 90 | 8.2% |
| Texas | 85 | 7.7% |
| New York | 62 | 5.6% |
| Michigan | 45 | 4.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 44 | 4.0% |
| Illinois | 40 | 3.6% |
| Virginia | 40 | 3.6% |
| Georgia | 35 | 3.2% |
| Maryland | 33 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 499 | 45.2% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 7 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 786 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 786 | 71.3% |
| Internet | 147 | 13.3% |
| TV | 143 | 13.0% |
| Radio | 23 | 2.1% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.2% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
786 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 71.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 606 | 77.1% |
| Billing | 93 | 11.8% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 24 | 3.1% |
| Equipment | 17 | 2.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 13 | 1.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 11 | 1.4% |
| Privacy | 10 | 1.3% |
| Junk Faxes | 6 | 0.8% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 0.4% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
147 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 60 | 40.8% |
| Availability | 27 | 18.4% |
| Speed | 19 | 12.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 15 | 10.2% |
| Equipment | 10 | 6.8% |
| Interference | 9 | 6.1% |
| Privacy | 7 | 4.8% |
Billing was the most commonly reported issue in this category, while other issues occurred less frequently.
TV complaints
143 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 83 | 58.0% |
| Availability | 27 | 18.9% |
| Equipment | 10 | 7.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 10 | 7.0% |
| Interference | 5 | 3.5% |
| Indecency | 4 | 2.8% |
| Privacy | 4 | 2.8% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
There were 606 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 54.9% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (317) 491-6397 | 12 | 2.0% |
| (916) 783-5595 | 4 | 0.7% |
| (220) 201-3251 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (309) 394-0011 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (330) 836-7919 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (339) 216-1098 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (443) 558-1101 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (530) 600-5010 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (757) 453-2118 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (801) 223-6336 | 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.
- (317) 491-6397 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.