FCC Consumer Complaints – 3 October 2017
Introduction
On 3 October 2017, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1182 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was higher than the 1016 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 50 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 676 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1182
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (676)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (135)
Where the complaints came from
On 3 October 2017, the 1182 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 805 cities across 50 states and territories. 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 distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 135 | 11.4% |
| Florida | 116 | 9.8% |
| Texas | 83 | 7.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 55 | 4.7% |
| Ohio | 49 | 4.1% |
| Illinois | 46 | 3.9% |
| North Carolina | 45 | 3.8% |
| Georgia | 43 | 3.6% |
| Virginia | 42 | 3.6% |
| New York | 38 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 526 | 44.5% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 886 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 886 | 75.0% |
| TV | 171 | 14.5% |
| Internet | 109 | 9.2% |
| Radio | 13 | 1.1% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
886 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 75.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 676 | 76.3% |
| Billing | 90 | 10.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 35 | 4.0% |
| Equipment | 25 | 2.8% |
| Privacy | 19 | 2.1% |
| Junk Faxes | 15 | 1.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 14 | 1.6% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 0.8% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 4 | 0.5% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 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. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
TV complaints
171 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 83 | 48.5% |
| Availability | 44 | 25.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 17 | 9.9% |
| Indecency | 13 | 7.6% |
| Equipment | 10 | 5.8% |
| Interference | 4 | 2.3% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Internet complaints
109 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 35 | 32.1% |
| Billing | 35 | 32.1% |
| Speed | 15 | 13.8% |
| Equipment | 9 | 8.3% |
| Interference | 8 | 7.3% |
| Privacy | 5 | 4.6% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 1.8% |
Availability and Billing were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
There were 676 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 57.2% 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 caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (844) 369-3859 | 5 | 0.7% |
| (800) 787-8565 | 4 | 0.6% |
| (814) 204-2156 | 4 | 0.6% |
| (202) 618-6970 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (210) 714-7804 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (213) 298-3757 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (214) 446-5432 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (222) 245-2077 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (240) 777-8997 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (303) 421-3658 | 2 | 0.3% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (844) 369-3859 | 5 | 0.7% |
| (800) 787-8565 | 4 | 0.6% |
| (240) 777-8997 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (814) 204-2156 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (210) 714-7804 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (214) 446-5432 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (222) 245-2077 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (312) 376-6414 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (339) 244-9618 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (775) 964-8592 | 2 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (844) 369-3859 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- (844) 369-3859 was reported slightly more often than other caller ID numbers.
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.