FCC Consumer Complaints – 28 March 2017
Introduction
On 28 March 2017, 1648 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, complaint volume increased from 1239 complaints the previous day. Reports were received from 51 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 1147 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1648
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (1147)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (246)
Where the complaints came from
The 1648 complaints recorded on 28 March 2017 originated from 1047 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large share of reports. 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 | 246 | 14.9% |
| Texas | 133 | 8.1% |
| Florida | 97 | 5.9% |
| New York | 85 | 5.2% |
| Illinois | 77 | 4.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 77 | 4.7% |
| Virginia | 56 | 3.4% |
| Georgia | 55 | 3.3% |
| Michigan | 55 | 3.3% |
| Maryland | 51 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 716 | 43.4% |
Location highlight
Complaints in California were reported across 147 cities, the widest spread observed on this date.
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 7 complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 1345 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1345 | 81.6% |
| Internet | 140 | 8.5% |
| TV | 131 | 7.9% |
| Radio | 26 | 1.6% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 3 | 0.2% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.1% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
1345 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 81.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 1147 | 85.3% |
| Billing | 97 | 7.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 25 | 1.9% |
| Junk Faxes | 19 | 1.4% |
| Equipment | 15 | 1.1% |
| Privacy | 14 | 1.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 10 | 0.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 8 | 0.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 7 | 0.5% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.1% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.1% |
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. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Junk Faxes among the most common.
Internet complaints
140 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 51 | 36.4% |
| Speed | 26 | 18.6% |
| Availability | 22 | 15.7% |
| Equipment | 14 | 10.0% |
| Privacy | 11 | 7.9% |
| Interference | 9 | 6.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 7 | 5.0% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Speed and Availability among the most common.
TV complaints
131 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 75 | 57.3% |
| Availability | 19 | 14.5% |
| Equipment | 13 | 9.9% |
| Indecency | 12 | 9.2% |
| Loud Commercials | 8 | 6.1% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.5% |
| Interference | 1 | 0.8% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.8% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
A total of 1147 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 69.6% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (317) 491-6397 | 7 | 0.6% |
| (800) 255-1412 | 6 | 0.5% |
| (202) 684-6838 | 4 | 0.3% |
| (203) 549-6699 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (217) 751-0210 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (248) 731-0281 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (248) 801-9301 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (317) 548-4540 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (317) 642-3115 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (409) 202-2318 | 3 | 0.3% |
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 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.