FCC Consumer Complaints – 16 March 2018
Introduction
A total of 1178 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 16 March 2018, complaint volume fell from 1290 complaints the day before. Complaints were reported across 51 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 833 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1178
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (833)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (129)
Where the complaints came from
On 16 March 2018, the 1178 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 759 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant share. 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 | 129 | 11.0% |
| Texas | 90 | 7.6% |
| Florida | 70 | 5.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 64 | 5.4% |
| New York | 56 | 4.8% |
| Colorado | 51 | 4.3% |
| Illinois | 51 | 4.3% |
| North Carolina | 45 | 3.8% |
| Michigan | 40 | 3.4% |
| New Jersey | 38 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 541 | 45.9% |
Location highlight
California had the widest distribution of complaints, with reports originating from 87 different cities.
What the complaints were about
A total of 7 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 981 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 981 | 83.3% |
| TV | 93 | 7.9% |
| Internet | 83 | 7.0% |
| Radio | 13 | 1.1% |
| Emergency | 4 | 0.3% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 2 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
981 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 83.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 833 | 84.9% |
| Billing | 49 | 5.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 27 | 2.8% |
| Equipment | 19 | 1.9% |
| Privacy | 15 | 1.5% |
| Rural Call Completion | 15 | 1.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 8 | 0.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 7 | 0.7% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 4 | 0.4% |
| Junk Faxes | 3 | 0.3% |
| 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 Equipment among the most common.
TV complaints
93 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 47 | 50.5% |
| Availability | 13 | 14.0% |
| Equipment | 12 | 12.9% |
| Indecency | 11 | 11.8% |
| Loud Commercials | 7 | 7.5% |
| Interference | 3 | 3.2% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Internet complaints
83 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 29 | 34.9% |
| Availability | 21 | 25.3% |
| Interference | 10 | 12.0% |
| Speed | 10 | 12.0% |
| Equipment | 8 | 9.6% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 3 | 3.6% |
| Privacy | 2 | 2.4% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
833 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 70.7% of all complaints. Reports referenced both caller ID numbers and business contact numbers, with number tables shown where meaningful patterns are present.
Most reported caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (727) 399-7449 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (854) 999-4407 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (857) 256-8065 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (888) 545-4189 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (985) 214-0714 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (203) 409-8737 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (646) 340-9823 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (682) 503-3495 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (203) 286-0974 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (217) 487-0056 | 2 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
- (727) 399-7449 was reported slightly more often than other caller ID numbers.
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.