FCC Consumer Complaints – 18 September 2017
Introduction
On Monday, 18 September 2017, 1037 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this represented an increase from the 288 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 51 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 583 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1037
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (583)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (107)
Where the complaints came from
The 1037 complaints recorded on 18 September 2017 originated from 735 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location 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 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 | 107 | 10.3% |
| Florida | 99 | 9.5% |
| Texas | 81 | 7.8% |
| New York | 57 | 5.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 43 | 4.1% |
| North Carolina | 40 | 3.9% |
| Georgia | 35 | 3.4% |
| Virginia | 33 | 3.2% |
| New Jersey | 32 | 3.1% |
| Ohio | 32 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 478 | 46.1% |
Location highlight
California had the widest distribution of complaints, with reports originating from 76 different cities.
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 771 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 771 | 74.3% |
| TV | 125 | 12.1% |
| Internet | 117 | 11.3% |
| Radio | 22 | 2.1% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
771 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 74.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 583 | 75.6% |
| Billing | 74 | 9.6% |
| Equipment | 28 | 3.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 27 | 3.5% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 21 | 2.7% |
| Privacy | 12 | 1.6% |
| Junk Faxes | 9 | 1.2% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 7 | 0.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 0.6% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 4 | 0.5% |
| Rural Call Completion | 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. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).
TV complaints
125 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 61 | 48.8% |
| Availability | 30 | 24.0% |
| Equipment | 10 | 8.0% |
| Indecency | 8 | 6.4% |
| Loud Commercials | 8 | 6.4% |
| Privacy | 5 | 4.0% |
| Interference | 2 | 1.6% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.8% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Internet complaints
117 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 43 | 36.8% |
| Availability | 34 | 29.1% |
| Speed | 12 | 10.3% |
| Equipment | 10 | 8.5% |
| Interference | 10 | 8.5% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 5 | 4.3% |
| Privacy | 3 | 2.6% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
There were 583 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 56.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (425) 412-2612 | 12 | 2.1% |
| (202) 991-2248 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (941) 213-2015 | 3 | 0.5% |
| (312) 912-7167 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (512) 647-2420 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (517) 212-9098 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (571) 482-1821 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (760) 635-2343 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (770) 823-1903 | 2 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (425) 412-2612 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
- 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.