FCC Consumer Complaints – 4 April 2017
Introduction
A total of 1346 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 4 April 2017, complaint volume increased from 982 complaints the day before. Reports were received from 52 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 764 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1346
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (764)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (135)
Where the complaints came from
The 1346 complaints recorded on 4 April 2017 were submitted from 886 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 | 135 | 10.0% |
| Florida | 112 | 8.3% |
| Texas | 92 | 6.8% |
| New York | 84 | 6.2% |
| Illinois | 70 | 5.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 61 | 4.5% |
| Virginia | 58 | 4.3% |
| North Carolina | 47 | 3.5% |
| New Jersey | 45 | 3.3% |
| Michigan | 44 | 3.3% |
| Other states and territories | 596 | 44.3% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 7 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 1005 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1005 | 74.7% |
| Internet | 168 | 12.5% |
| TV | 145 | 10.8% |
| Radio | 25 | 1.9% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
1005 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 74.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 764 | 76.0% |
| Billing | 117 | 11.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 38 | 3.8% |
| Equipment | 26 | 2.6% |
| Junk Faxes | 18 | 1.8% |
| Privacy | 15 | 1.5% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 11 | 1.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 9 | 0.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 4 | 0.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 0.3% |
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
168 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 66 | 39.3% |
| Availability | 36 | 21.4% |
| Speed | 33 | 19.6% |
| Equipment | 10 | 6.0% |
| Interference | 10 | 6.0% |
| Privacy | 8 | 4.8% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 5 | 3.0% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
145 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 75 | 51.7% |
| Availability | 41 | 28.3% |
| Indecency | 11 | 7.6% |
| Equipment | 9 | 6.2% |
| Interference | 5 | 3.4% |
| Loud Commercials | 4 | 2.8% |
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 764 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 56.8% 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 | 9 | 1.2% |
| (800) 255-1412 | 6 | 0.8% |
| (972) 474-3259 | 6 | 0.8% |
| (214) 534-1178 | 5 | 0.7% |
| (469) 247-5149 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (855) 329-8507 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (985) 217-1563 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (206) 325-6508 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (352) 658-6532 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (562) 667-9238 | 3 | 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.
- (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.