FCC Consumer Complaints – 21 November 2017
Introduction
A total of 1113 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 21 November 2017, this was higher than the 911 complaints recorded the previous day. 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 635 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1113
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (635)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (148)
Where the complaints came from
A total of 1113 complaints were recorded on 21 November 2017, with reports originating from 758 cities in 51 states and territories. 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 table below summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 148 | 13.3% |
| Florida | 87 | 7.8% |
| Texas | 64 | 5.8% |
| New York | 62 | 5.6% |
| Georgia | 56 | 5.0% |
| Ohio | 45 | 4.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 44 | 4.0% |
| Maryland | 36 | 3.2% |
| Washington | 35 | 3.1% |
| Colorado | 33 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 502 | 45.1% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 832 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 832 | 74.8% |
| Internet | 161 | 14.5% |
| TV | 102 | 9.2% |
| Radio | 15 | 1.3% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.2% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
832 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 74.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 635 | 76.3% |
| Billing | 83 | 10.0% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 43 | 5.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 23 | 2.8% |
| Equipment | 18 | 2.2% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 8 | 1.0% |
| Privacy | 7 | 0.8% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 0.6% |
| Junk Faxes | 5 | 0.6% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 3 | 0.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 0.2% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) and Availability (including rural call completion).
Internet complaints
161 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 55 | 34.2% |
| Billing | 33 | 20.5% |
| Speed | 26 | 16.1% |
| Availability | 23 | 14.3% |
| Interference | 10 | 6.2% |
| Privacy | 8 | 5.0% |
| Equipment | 6 | 3.7% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Open Internet/Net Neutrality, Billing and Speed.
TV complaints
102 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 54 | 52.9% |
| Availability | 16 | 15.7% |
| Equipment | 12 | 11.8% |
| Indecency | 10 | 9.8% |
| Loud Commercials | 4 | 3.9% |
| Privacy | 4 | 3.9% |
| Interference | 2 | 2.0% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
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.