FCC Consumer Complaints – 12 September 2017
Introduction
On Tuesday, 12 September 2017, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1042 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented an increase from the 822 complaints recorded the previous day. 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 604 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1042
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (604)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (155)
Where the complaints came from
On 12 September 2017, the 1042 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 699 cities across 50 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 155 | 14.9% |
| Texas | 79 | 7.6% |
| New York | 63 | 6.0% |
| Ohio | 51 | 4.9% |
| Illinois | 42 | 4.0% |
| North Carolina | 41 | 3.9% |
| Michigan | 40 | 3.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 39 | 3.7% |
| Florida | 36 | 3.5% |
| Virginia | 33 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 462 | 44.3% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 5 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 813 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 813 | 78.0% |
| TV | 127 | 12.2% |
| Internet | 90 | 8.6% |
| Radio | 8 | 0.8% |
| Emergency | 4 | 0.4% |
Phone complaints
813 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 78.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 604 | 74.3% |
| Billing | 87 | 10.7% |
| Privacy | 30 | 3.7% |
| Equipment | 24 | 3.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 22 | 2.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 21 | 2.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 14 | 1.7% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 0.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 3 | 0.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 2 | 0.2% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Privacy and Equipment.
TV complaints
127 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 53 | 41.7% |
| Availability | 26 | 20.5% |
| Equipment | 17 | 13.4% |
| Loud Commercials | 15 | 11.8% |
| Interference | 8 | 6.3% |
| Indecency | 6 | 4.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.8% |
| Privacy | 1 | 0.8% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
90 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 30 | 33.3% |
| Availability | 18 | 20.0% |
| Equipment | 16 | 17.8% |
| Speed | 11 | 12.2% |
| Privacy | 8 | 8.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 4 | 4.4% |
| Interference | 3 | 3.3% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Equipment.
Unwanted calls
A total of 604 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 58% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (425) 553-2185 | 8 | 1.3% |
| (470) 689-1197 | 4 | 0.7% |
| (800) 787-8565 | 4 | 0.7% |
| (202) 856-6998 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (530) 279-6648 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (702) 605-6167 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (703) 200-8900 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (817) 926-5955 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (212) 999-9889 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (214) 269-3476 | 2 | 0.3% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (833) 217-3846 | 5 | 0.8% |
| (866) 446-2173 | 5 | 0.8% |
| (470) 689-1197 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (757) 267-8056 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (833) 206-1842 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (844) 861-5546 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (202) 996-3787 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (302) 549-9993 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (314) 254-0408 | 2 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- Several business contact numbers were reported multiple times, with no single number clearly ahead of the others.
- (425) 553-2185 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.