FCC Consumer Complaints – 31 August 2017
Introduction
A total of 1471 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday, 31 August 2017, this was higher than the 1433 complaints recorded 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 1042 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1471
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (1042)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (158)
Where the complaints came from
On 31 August 2017, the 1471 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 946 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. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
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 | 158 | 10.7% |
| New York | 101 | 6.9% |
| Florida | 98 | 6.7% |
| North Carolina | 74 | 5.0% |
| Illinois | 67 | 4.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 67 | 4.6% |
| Ohio | 62 | 4.2% |
| Georgia | 60 | 4.1% |
| Texas | 55 | 3.7% |
| Arizona | 42 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 683 | 46.4% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 6 different complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 1224 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1224 | 83.2% |
| TV | 127 | 8.6% |
| Internet | 107 | 7.3% |
| Radio | 11 | 0.7% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
1224 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 83.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 1042 | 85.1% |
| Billing | 68 | 5.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 35 | 2.9% |
| Equipment | 25 | 2.0% |
| Privacy | 17 | 1.4% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 11 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 8 | 0.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 7 | 0.6% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 0.5% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 0.2% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 2 | 0.2% |
| Rural Call Completion | 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 Equipment among the most common.
TV complaints
127 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 72 | 56.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 22 | 17.3% |
| Availability | 19 | 15.0% |
| Equipment | 6 | 4.7% |
| Interference | 5 | 3.9% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.6% |
| Indecency | 1 | 0.8% |
Billing and Loud Commercials were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Internet complaints
107 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 34 | 31.8% |
| Availability | 24 | 22.4% |
| Speed | 18 | 16.8% |
| Privacy | 10 | 9.3% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 8 | 7.5% |
| Equipment | 7 | 6.5% |
| Interference | 6 | 5.6% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability and Speed among the most common.
Unwanted calls
There were 1042 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 70.8% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (214) 979-8989 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (334) 693-7341 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (703) 721-5767 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (833) 217-3824 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (201) 844-9336 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (425) 553-2163 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (828) 408-0031 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (202) 202-9110 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (202) 602-2767 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (208) 284-3883 | 2 | 0.2% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (334) 693-7341 | 6 | 0.6% |
| (800) 689-0105 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (214) 979-8989 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (356) 985-2147 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (828) 408-0031 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (833) 217-3824 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (844) 369-3851 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (855) 515-1131 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (201) 844-9336 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (202) 602-2767 | 2 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (334) 693-7341 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- Several caller ID numbers were reported multiple times, with no single number clearly ahead of the others.
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.