FCC Consumer Complaints – 29 March 2018
Introduction
A total of 1206 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday, 29 March 2018, complaint volume fell from 1310 complaints the day before. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 846 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1206
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (846)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (130)
Where the complaints came from
A total of 1206 complaints were recorded on 29 March 2018, with reports originating from 796 cities in 51 states and territories. Complaint reports were spread across multiple states and territories, without any one location accounting for a large share. 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 | 130 | 10.8% |
| Texas | 94 | 7.8% |
| Florida | 78 | 6.5% |
| New York | 68 | 5.6% |
| Michigan | 53 | 4.4% |
| Virginia | 51 | 4.2% |
| Colorado | 48 | 4.0% |
| Washington | 43 | 3.6% |
| Ohio | 41 | 3.4% |
| North Carolina | 40 | 3.3% |
| Other states and territories | 558 | 46.3% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 1000 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1000 | 82.9% |
| TV | 95 | 7.9% |
| Internet | 91 | 7.5% |
| Radio | 15 | 1.2% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.3% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
1000 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 82.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 846 | 84.6% |
| Billing | 60 | 6.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 22 | 2.2% |
| Privacy | 22 | 2.2% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 12 | 1.2% |
| Equipment | 10 | 1.0% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 10 | 1.0% |
| Junk Faxes | 9 | 0.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 0.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.1% |
| Rural Call Completion | 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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Privacy.
TV complaints
95 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 38 | 40.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 18 | 18.9% |
| Availability | 14 | 14.7% |
| Equipment | 12 | 12.6% |
| Indecency | 5 | 5.3% |
| Interference | 3 | 3.2% |
| Privacy | 3 | 3.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 2.1% |
Billing was the most commonly reported issue in this category, while other issues occurred less frequently.
Internet complaints
91 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 24 | 26.4% |
| Availability | 18 | 19.8% |
| Speed | 16 | 17.6% |
| Interference | 12 | 13.2% |
| Privacy | 9 | 9.9% |
| Equipment | 8 | 8.8% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 4 | 4.4% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Speed.
Unwanted calls
A total of 846 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 70.1% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact numbers are shown below where sufficient data is available.
Most reported caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (281) 674-5610 | 7 | 0.8% |
| (845) 481-8159 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (360) 499-2808 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (412) 766-4677 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (516) 453-6886 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (773) 273-6136 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (833) 354-7495 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (855) 651-0029 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (903) 740-1852 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (915) 321-4510 | 3 | 0.4% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (281) 674-5610 | 7 | 0.8% |
| (845) 481-8159 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (915) 321-4510 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (833) 354-7495 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (360) 499-2808 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (817) 494-6675 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (855) 651-0029 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (856) 792-9480 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (866) 223-9498 | 3 | 0.4% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (281) 674-5610 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- (281) 674-5610 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.