FCC Consumer Complaints – 3 December 2017
Introduction
On 3 December 2017, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 211 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 397 complaints recorded the day before. Complaints were reported across 42 states and territories, with Texas slightly ahead of the other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 101 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 211
- States & territories reporting
- 42
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (101)
- Most reported state/territory
- Texas (28)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 3 December 2017 show 211 complaints originating from 156 cities across 42 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 distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 28 | 13.3% |
| California | 27 | 12.8% |
| Florida | 12 | 5.7% |
| North Carolina | 12 | 5.7% |
| Colorado | 8 | 3.8% |
| Massachusetts | 8 | 3.8% |
| New York | 8 | 3.8% |
| Arizona | 7 | 3.3% |
| Georgia | 7 | 3.3% |
| New Jersey | 7 | 3.3% |
| Other states and territories | 87 | 41.2% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 4 complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 142 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 142 | 67.3% |
| TV | 43 | 20.4% |
| Internet | 19 | 9.0% |
| Radio | 7 | 3.3% |
Phone complaints
142 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 67.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 101 | 71.1% |
| Billing | 15 | 10.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 9 | 6.3% |
| Equipment | 7 | 4.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 3.5% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 2 | 1.4% |
| Junk Faxes | 1 | 0.7% |
| Privacy | 1 | 0.7% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.7% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment among the most common.
TV complaints
43 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 20.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 19 | 44.2% |
| Availability | 8 | 18.6% |
| Indecency | 6 | 14.0% |
| Equipment | 3 | 7.0% |
| Interference | 3 | 7.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 2 | 4.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 2.3% |
| Privacy | 1 | 2.3% |
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.