FCC Consumer Complaints – 3 March 2018
Introduction
A total of 380 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 3 March 2018, complaint volume fell from 1099 complaints the previous day. Submissions were made from 47 states and territories, with California accounting for the highest number of complaints at 63. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 182 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 380
- States & territories reporting
- 47
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (182)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (63)
Where the complaints came from
The 380 complaints recorded on 3 March 2018 originated from 305 cities across 47 states and territories. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 63 | 16.6% |
| Texas | 28 | 7.4% |
| Florida | 24 | 6.3% |
| New York | 24 | 6.3% |
| Illinois | 18 | 4.7% |
| New Jersey | 16 | 4.2% |
| Maryland | 13 | 3.4% |
| Ohio | 13 | 3.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 13 | 3.4% |
| Massachusetts | 12 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 156 | 41.1% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 5 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 258 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 258 | 67.9% |
| TV | 67 | 17.6% |
| Internet | 51 | 13.4% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.5% |
| Radio | 2 | 0.5% |
Phone complaints
258 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 67.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 182 | 70.5% |
| Billing | 28 | 10.9% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 12 | 4.7% |
| Privacy | 11 | 4.3% |
| Equipment | 10 | 3.9% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 9 | 3.5% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 2 | 0.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 2 | 0.8% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 1 | 0.4% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.4% |
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, Availability (including rural call completion) and Privacy.
TV complaints
67 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 17.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 26 | 38.8% |
| Loud Commercials | 13 | 19.4% |
| Indecency | 10 | 14.9% |
| Availability | 9 | 13.4% |
| Equipment | 4 | 6.0% |
| Interference | 2 | 3.0% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 3.0% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.5% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Loud Commercials and Indecency.
Internet complaints
51 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 17 | 33.3% |
| Billing | 14 | 27.5% |
| Speed | 8 | 15.7% |
| Interference | 7 | 13.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 3 | 5.9% |
| Equipment | 2 | 3.9% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, 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.