FCC Consumer Complaints – 2 September 2017
Introduction
On Saturday, 2 September 2017, 450 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this represented a decline from the 1130 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 44 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 274 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 450
- States & territories reporting
- 44
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (274)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (52)
Where the complaints came from
The 450 complaints recorded on 2 September 2017 were submitted from 331 cities across 44 states and territories. Activity was spread across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a substantial share of complaints. 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 | 52 | 11.6% |
| Florida | 30 | 6.7% |
| Texas | 27 | 6.0% |
| Alabama | 24 | 5.3% |
| Georgia | 22 | 4.9% |
| Illinois | 18 | 4.0% |
| Ohio | 18 | 4.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | 4.0% |
| New Jersey | 16 | 3.6% |
| Virginia | 16 | 3.6% |
| Other states and territories | 209 | 46.4% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 7 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 336 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 336 | 74.7% |
| TV | 57 | 12.7% |
| Internet | 45 | 10.0% |
| Radio | 6 | 1.3% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.7% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.4% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
336 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 74.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 274 | 81.5% |
| Billing | 26 | 7.7% |
| Equipment | 11 | 3.3% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 10 | 3.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 1.5% |
| Privacy | 5 | 1.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 2 | 0.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 2 | 0.6% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).
TV complaints
57 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 20 | 35.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 11 | 19.3% |
| Availability | 10 | 17.5% |
| Indecency | 10 | 17.5% |
| Equipment | 5 | 8.8% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.8% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Loud Commercials and Availability.
Internet complaints
45 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 12 | 26.7% |
| Speed | 12 | 26.7% |
| Availability | 11 | 24.4% |
| Equipment | 4 | 8.9% |
| Interference | 3 | 6.7% |
| Privacy | 2 | 4.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 2.2% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Speed and Availability.
Unwanted calls
There were 274 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 60.9% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (833) 217-3824 | 6 | 2.2% |
| (404) 822-0184 | 3 | 1.1% |
| (850) 204-0693 | 3 | 1.1% |
| (201) 844-9336 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (218) 380-2142 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (251) 494-1068 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (425) 553-2176 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (708) 334-5135 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (719) 335-8837 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (800) 333-8200 | 2 | 0.7% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (833) 217-3824 | 9 | 3.3% |
| (205) 623-2048 | 4 | 1.5% |
| (850) 204-0693 | 3 | 1.1% |
| (214) 979-8989 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (251) 494-1068 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (256) 474-4902 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (256) 665-9152 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (425) 553-2176 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (708) 334-5135 | 2 | 0.7% |
| (719) 335-8837 | 2 | 0.7% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (833) 217-3824 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
- (833) 217-3824 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.