FCC Consumer Complaints – 30 March 2018
Introduction
On 30 March 2018, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 896 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 1206 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California recording the largest share of reports at 129 complaints. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 613 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 896
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (613)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (129)
Where the complaints came from
On 30 March 2018, the 896 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 612 cities across 51 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 table below summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 129 | 14.4% |
| Texas | 62 | 6.9% |
| New York | 57 | 6.4% |
| Florida | 54 | 6.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 42 | 4.7% |
| Virginia | 31 | 3.5% |
| Arizona | 29 | 3.2% |
| Georgia | 29 | 3.2% |
| Illinois | 26 | 2.9% |
| Ohio | 26 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 410 | 45.8% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 5 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 732 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 732 | 81.7% |
| TV | 78 | 8.7% |
| Internet | 58 | 6.5% |
| Radio | 27 | 3.0% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
732 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 81.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 613 | 83.7% |
| Billing | 48 | 6.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 15 | 2.0% |
| Equipment | 15 | 2.0% |
| Privacy | 13 | 1.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 12 | 1.6% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 1.0% |
| Junk Faxes | 4 | 0.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 0.4% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.1% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section 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
78 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 32 | 41.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 16 | 20.5% |
| Equipment | 10 | 12.8% |
| Availability | 9 | 11.5% |
| Interference | 5 | 6.4% |
| Indecency | 4 | 5.1% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 1.3% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.3% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Loud Commercials, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
58 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 22 | 37.9% |
| Availability | 14 | 24.1% |
| Interference | 8 | 13.8% |
| Speed | 8 | 13.8% |
| Privacy | 4 | 6.9% |
| Equipment | 1 | 1.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 1.7% |
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.