FCC Consumer Complaints – 8 September 2017
Introduction
A total of 972 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 8 September 2017, complaint volume fell from 1161 complaints the day before. Complaints were reported across 50 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 642 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 972
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (642)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (115)
Where the complaints came from
Across 678 cities in 50 states and territories, a total of 972 complaints were recorded on 8 September 2017. 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 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 | 115 | 11.8% |
| New York | 70 | 7.2% |
| Texas | 61 | 6.3% |
| North Carolina | 43 | 4.4% |
| Illinois | 42 | 4.3% |
| Ohio | 40 | 4.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 40 | 4.1% |
| Virginia | 38 | 3.9% |
| New Jersey | 37 | 3.8% |
| Colorado | 33 | 3.4% |
| Other states and territories | 453 | 46.6% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 different complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 793 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 793 | 81.6% |
| TV | 89 | 9.2% |
| Internet | 82 | 8.4% |
| Radio | 5 | 0.5% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
793 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 81.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 642 | 81.0% |
| Billing | 60 | 7.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 27 | 3.4% |
| Equipment | 23 | 2.9% |
| Privacy | 13 | 1.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 9 | 1.1% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 0.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 3 | 0.4% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 2 | 0.3% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.1% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided 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
89 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 39 | 43.8% |
| Availability | 21 | 23.6% |
| Loud Commercials | 12 | 13.5% |
| Indecency | 9 | 10.1% |
| Equipment | 6 | 6.7% |
| Interference | 2 | 2.2% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Internet complaints
82 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 27 | 32.9% |
| Billing | 25 | 30.5% |
| Speed | 14 | 17.1% |
| Interference | 11 | 13.4% |
| Equipment | 3 | 3.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 1.2% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.2% |
Availability and Billing were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
There were 642 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 66% 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 business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (555) 555-5555 | 6 | 0.9% |
| (844) 293-7065 | 4 | 0.6% |
| (206) 451-5187 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (740) 315-8945 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (800) 689-0105 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (214) 748-3647 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (216) 487-6654 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (310) 803-9561 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (315) 267-8657 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (318) 728-8095 | 2 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (555) 555-5555 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- Reports were spread across many different caller ID numbers, with no single number dominating.
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.