FCC Consumer Complaints – 16 September 2017
Introduction
A total of 417 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Saturday, 16 September 2017, complaint volume fell from 982 complaints the day before. Reports were received from 45 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 208 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 417
- States & territories reporting
- 45
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (208)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (62)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 16 September 2017 show 417 complaints originating from 327 cities across 45 states and territories. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
The table below summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 62 | 14.9% |
| Florida | 35 | 8.4% |
| Texas | 31 | 7.4% |
| Georgia | 22 | 5.3% |
| North Carolina | 21 | 5.0% |
| Ohio | 19 | 4.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 19 | 4.6% |
| New York | 18 | 4.3% |
| Illinois | 15 | 3.6% |
| Arizona | 12 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 163 | 39.1% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 292 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 292 | 70.0% |
| TV | 59 | 14.1% |
| Internet | 56 | 13.4% |
| Radio | 7 | 1.7% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.5% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
292 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 70.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 208 | 71.2% |
| Billing | 31 | 10.6% |
| Equipment | 18 | 6.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 9 | 3.1% |
| Privacy | 8 | 2.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 7 | 2.4% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 6 | 2.1% |
| Junk Faxes | 4 | 1.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 1 | 0.3% |
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, Equipment and Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) among the most common.
TV complaints
59 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 31 | 52.5% |
| Loud Commercials | 12 | 20.3% |
| Indecency | 7 | 11.9% |
| Equipment | 4 | 6.8% |
| Availability | 2 | 3.4% |
| Privacy | 2 | 3.4% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.7% |
Billing and Loud Commercials were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Internet complaints
56 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 17 | 30.4% |
| Availability | 12 | 21.4% |
| Speed | 10 | 17.9% |
| Equipment | 5 | 8.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 5 | 8.9% |
| Interference | 4 | 7.1% |
| Privacy | 3 | 5.4% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability and Speed among the most common.
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.