FCC Consumer Complaints – 9 February 2018
Introduction
A total of 1241 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Friday, 9 February 2018, this represented a decline from the 1295 complaints recorded the day before. Complaints were reported across 52 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 803 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1241
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (803)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (168)
Where the complaints came from
The 1241 complaints recorded on 9 February 2018 originated from 797 cities across 52 states and territories. Complaint reports were spread across multiple states and territories, without any one location accounting for a large share. 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 | 168 | 13.5% |
| Texas | 100 | 8.1% |
| Florida | 88 | 7.1% |
| Ohio | 58 | 4.7% |
| New York | 57 | 4.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 51 | 4.1% |
| Illinois | 42 | 3.4% |
| New Jersey | 42 | 3.4% |
| Washington | 42 | 3.4% |
| Missouri | 38 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 553 | 44.6% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 7 different complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 993 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 993 | 80.0% |
| TV | 124 | 10.0% |
| Internet | 98 | 7.9% |
| Radio | 20 | 1.6% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.2% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
993 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 80.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 803 | 80.9% |
| Billing | 79 | 8.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 25 | 2.5% |
| Privacy | 24 | 2.4% |
| Equipment | 22 | 2.2% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 20 | 2.0% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 9 | 0.9% |
| Junk Faxes | 6 | 0.6% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 4 | 0.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.1% |
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 Privacy among the most common.
TV complaints
124 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 55 | 44.4% |
| Indecency | 23 | 18.5% |
| Loud Commercials | 23 | 18.5% |
| Availability | 11 | 8.9% |
| Equipment | 8 | 6.5% |
| Interference | 3 | 2.4% |
| Privacy | 1 | 0.8% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Indecency, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
98 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 44 | 44.9% |
| Availability | 21 | 21.4% |
| Speed | 11 | 11.2% |
| Privacy | 8 | 8.2% |
| Interference | 6 | 6.1% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 5 | 5.1% |
| Equipment | 3 | 3.1% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
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.