FCC Consumer Complaints – 27 October 2017
Introduction
A total of 1113 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 27 October 2017, this represented a decline from the 1120 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 52 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 752 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1113
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (752)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (116)
Where the complaints came from
Across 753 cities in 52 states and territories, a total of 1113 complaints were recorded on 27 October 2017. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large share of reports. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 116 | 10.4% |
| Florida | 89 | 8.0% |
| Texas | 81 | 7.3% |
| New York | 66 | 5.9% |
| Virginia | 51 | 4.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 49 | 4.4% |
| North Carolina | 44 | 4.0% |
| Colorado | 37 | 3.3% |
| New Jersey | 35 | 3.1% |
| Illinois | 34 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 511 | 45.9% |
Location highlight
California had the widest distribution of complaints, with reports originating from 79 different cities.
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 5 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 937 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 937 | 84.2% |
| TV | 84 | 7.5% |
| Internet | 78 | 7.0% |
| Radio | 13 | 1.2% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
937 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 84.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 752 | 80.3% |
| Billing | 62 | 6.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 35 | 3.7% |
| Equipment | 27 | 2.9% |
| Privacy | 27 | 2.9% |
| Junk Faxes | 14 | 1.5% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 9 | 1.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 4 | 0.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 4 | 0.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 0.3% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
TV complaints
84 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 39 | 46.4% |
| Availability | 19 | 22.6% |
| Equipment | 9 | 10.7% |
| Indecency | 9 | 10.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 5 | 6.0% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 1.2% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.2% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Internet complaints
78 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 24 | 30.8% |
| Availability | 22 | 28.2% |
| Speed | 13 | 16.7% |
| Interference | 7 | 9.0% |
| Equipment | 6 | 7.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 4 | 5.1% |
| Privacy | 2 | 2.6% |
Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability and Speed.
Unwanted calls
752 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 67.6% of all complaints. Reports referenced both caller ID numbers and business contact numbers, with number tables shown where meaningful patterns are present.
Most reported caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (855) 297-5595 | 6 | 0.8% |
| (256) 369-7102 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (319) 569-0129 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (888) 773-8434 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (202) 844-1696 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (267) 515-6117 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (301) 371-1875 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (307) 248-7190 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (360) 355-9820 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (442) 237-6052 | 2 | 0.3% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (855) 297-5595 | 8 | 1.1% |
| (888) 773-8434 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (319) 569-0129 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (325) 762-7444 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (800) 716-5818 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (888) 342-1106 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (202) 558-7576 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (206) 866-9078 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (256) 369-7102 | 2 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (855) 297-5595 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
- (855) 297-5595 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.