FCC Consumer Complaints – 14 September 2017
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 1069 consumer complaints on Thursday, 14 September 2017 relating to telecommunications services, this was higher than the 1011 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 52 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 645 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1069
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (645)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (131)
Where the complaints came from
On 14 September 2017, the 1069 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 729 cities across 52 states and territories. Activity was spread across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a substantial share of complaints. 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 | 131 | 12.3% |
| Texas | 86 | 8.0% |
| Florida | 72 | 6.7% |
| New York | 67 | 6.3% |
| Ohio | 57 | 5.3% |
| Arizona | 39 | 3.6% |
| Georgia | 38 | 3.6% |
| Illinois | 38 | 3.6% |
| Michigan | 36 | 3.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 36 | 3.4% |
| Other states and territories | 466 | 43.6% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 5 different complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 848 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 848 | 79.3% |
| TV | 112 | 10.5% |
| Internet | 96 | 9.0% |
| Radio | 12 | 1.1% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
848 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 79.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 645 | 76.1% |
| Billing | 81 | 9.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 36 | 4.2% |
| Privacy | 21 | 2.5% |
| Equipment | 19 | 2.2% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 15 | 1.8% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 10 | 1.2% |
| Junk Faxes | 10 | 1.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 0.8% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 2 | 0.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.1% |
| 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 Privacy among the most common.
TV complaints
112 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 56 | 50.0% |
| Availability | 23 | 20.5% |
| Equipment | 8 | 7.1% |
| Indecency | 8 | 7.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 8 | 7.1% |
| Privacy | 5 | 4.5% |
| Interference | 3 | 2.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.9% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
96 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 29 | 30.2% |
| Availability | 27 | 28.1% |
| Speed | 13 | 13.5% |
| Interference | 12 | 12.5% |
| Equipment | 7 | 7.3% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 4 | 4.2% |
| Privacy | 4 | 4.2% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability and Speed among the most common.
Unwanted calls
There were 645 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 60.3% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (425) 553-2189 | 5 | 0.8% |
| (470) 689-1197 | 5 | 0.8% |
| (206) 451-5187 | 4 | 0.6% |
| (425) 553-2191 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (760) 284-3391 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (862) 354-8459 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (202) 631-6367 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (202) 838-7284 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (202) 856-6998 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (216) 609-1825 | 2 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
- 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.