FCC Consumer Complaints – 25 January 2018

Introduction

A total of 1216 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 25 January 2018, complaint volume fell from 1263 complaints the day before. Reports were received from 52 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 780 complaints.

Key statistics

Total complaints
1216
States & territories reporting
52
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (780)
Most reported state/territory
California (119)

Where the complaints came from

The 1216 complaints recorded on 25 January 2018 originated from 784 cities across 52 states and territories. The complaints were widely dispersed, with no single state or territory representing a notable proportion of the total. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.

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 119 9.8%
Florida 92 7.6%
Texas 81 6.7%
New York 77 6.3%
Georgia 52 4.3%
Ohio 52 4.3%
Pennsylvania 47 3.9%
Oregon 39 3.2%
Michigan 37 3.0%
Virginia 37 3.0%
Other states and territories 572 47.0%

What the complaints were about

A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 993 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 993 81.7%
TV 103 8.5%
Internet 94 7.7%
Radio 23 1.9%
Request for Dispute Assistance 2 0.2%
Emergency 1 0.1%

Phone complaints

993 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 81.7% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 780 78.5%
Billing 85 8.6%
Equipment 33 3.3%
Availability (including rural call completion) 25 2.5%
Interference (including signal jammers) 24 2.4%
Privacy 16 1.6%
Junk Faxes 13 1.3%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 12 1.2%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 2 0.2%
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 2 0.2%
Rural Call Completion 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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).

TV complaints

103 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.5% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 50 48.5%
Availability 19 18.4%
Indecency 13 12.6%
Equipment 8 7.8%
Interference 6 5.8%
Loud Commercials 6 5.8%
Privacy 1 1.0%

Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.

Internet complaints

94 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.7% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 29 30.9%
Speed 20 21.3%
Availability 17 18.1%
Privacy 9 9.6%
Equipment 8 8.5%
Interference 6 6.4%
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 5 5.3%

The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Speed and Availability.

Unwanted calls

There were 780 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 64.1% 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
(307) 464-3934 5 0.6%
(318) 274-8521 3 0.4%
(331) 204-0002 3 0.4%
(402) 382-1530 3 0.4%
(425) 412-2539 3 0.4%
(833) 221-0241 3 0.4%
(201) 267-3812 2 0.3%
(217) 208-9865 2 0.3%
(217) 481-8030 2 0.3%
(230) 598-7456 2 0.3%

Most reported business contact numbers

Telephone number Complaints Share
(307) 464-3934 5 0.6%
(555) 555-5555 5 0.6%
(833) 221-0241 4 0.5%
(833) 225-0851 4 0.5%
(318) 274-8521 3 0.4%
(331) 204-0002 3 0.4%
(402) 382-1530 3 0.4%
(217) 481-8030 2 0.3%
(230) 598-7456 2 0.3%
(323) 310-0630 2 0.3%

Key patterns

  • Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
  • Several business contact numbers were reported multiple times, with no single number clearly ahead of the others.
  • (307) 464-3934 was reported slightly more often than other caller ID numbers.
Page last updated: 10 December 2018 with FCC complaints data from 25 January 2018.

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.