FCC Consumer Complaints – 3 August 2017
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 1326 consumer complaints on 3 August 2017 relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 1343 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 50 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 908 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1326
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (908)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (140)
Where the complaints came from
A total of 1326 complaints were recorded on 3 August 2017, with reports originating from 866 cities in 50 states and territories. Complaint reports were spread across multiple states and territories, without any one location accounting for a large share. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
The table below shows the distribution of complaints by state and territory for this date, highlighting the locations with the highest number of reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 140 | 10.6% |
| Florida | 107 | 8.1% |
| Texas | 103 | 7.8% |
| New York | 95 | 7.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 75 | 5.7% |
| Michigan | 52 | 3.9% |
| Illinois | 49 | 3.7% |
| Ohio | 49 | 3.7% |
| Georgia | 48 | 3.6% |
| Virginia | 48 | 3.6% |
| Other states and territories | 559 | 42.2% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 5 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 1109 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1109 | 83.6% |
| TV | 116 | 8.7% |
| Internet | 88 | 6.6% |
| Radio | 10 | 0.8% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
1109 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 83.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 908 | 81.9% |
| Billing | 80 | 7.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 30 | 2.7% |
| Equipment | 20 | 1.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 17 | 1.5% |
| Privacy | 17 | 1.5% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 15 | 1.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 0.5% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 6 | 0.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.5% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 3 | 0.3% |
| Rural Call Completion | 2 | 0.2% |
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. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
TV complaints
116 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 67 | 57.8% |
| Availability | 24 | 20.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 11 | 9.5% |
| Indecency | 7 | 6.0% |
| Equipment | 5 | 4.3% |
| Interference | 2 | 1.7% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
88 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 29 | 33.0% |
| Billing | 24 | 27.3% |
| Speed | 16 | 18.2% |
| Equipment | 7 | 8.0% |
| Privacy | 5 | 5.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 4 | 4.5% |
| Interference | 3 | 3.4% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
There were 908 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 68.5% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (555) 555-5555 | 8 | 0.9% |
| (206) 706-8222 | 6 | 0.7% |
| (201) 267-3031 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (480) 407-6081 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (610) 628-4163 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (952) 440-2443 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (201) 267-3030 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (215) 809-2364 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (269) 229-2202 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (320) 434-6737 | 3 | 0.3% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (555) 555-5555 | 12 | 1.3% |
| (855) 632-8334 | 6 | 0.7% |
| (206) 706-8222 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (202) 751-2568 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (404) 458-0681 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (636) 410-9139 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (714) 551-0179 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (727) 478-6061 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (844) 293-7061 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (201) 493-5464 | 2 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by call type.
- (555) 555-5555 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
- (555) 555-5555 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.