FCC Consumer Complaints – 5 April 2018
Introduction
On Thursday, 5 April 2018, 1243 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this represented a decline from the 1325 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 51 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 845 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1243
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (845)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (145)
Where the complaints came from
The 1243 complaints recorded on 5 April 2018 originated from 813 cities across 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 shows the distribution of complaints by state and territory for this date, highlighting the locations with the highest number of reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 145 | 11.7% |
| Florida | 95 | 7.6% |
| Texas | 93 | 7.5% |
| New York | 58 | 4.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 51 | 4.1% |
| Washington | 46 | 3.7% |
| North Carolina | 43 | 3.5% |
| Virginia | 43 | 3.5% |
| Michigan | 42 | 3.4% |
| New Jersey | 39 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 584 | 47.0% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 7 complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 1016 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1016 | 81.7% |
| TV | 120 | 9.7% |
| Internet | 90 | 7.2% |
| Radio | 13 | 1.0% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
1016 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 81.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 845 | 83.2% |
| Billing | 68 | 6.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 22 | 2.2% |
| Privacy | 21 | 2.1% |
| Equipment | 18 | 1.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 16 | 1.6% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 9 | 0.9% |
| Junk Faxes | 9 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.5% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 0.2% |
| 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. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Privacy.
TV complaints
120 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 48 | 40.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 33 | 27.5% |
| Availability | 16 | 13.3% |
| Indecency | 9 | 7.5% |
| Interference | 5 | 4.2% |
| Equipment | 4 | 3.3% |
| Privacy | 3 | 2.5% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 1.7% |
Billing and Loud Commercials were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Internet complaints
90 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 33 | 36.7% |
| Speed | 21 | 23.3% |
| Availability | 12 | 13.3% |
| Interference | 8 | 8.9% |
| Equipment | 7 | 7.8% |
| Privacy | 7 | 7.8% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 2.2% |
Billing and Speed were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
There were 845 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 68% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact number details are listed below where there is enough concentration to make the data meaningful.
Most reported caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (773) 273-6136 | 8 | 0.9% |
| (646) 396-9791 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (925) 322-5851 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (646) 396-7357 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (312) 392-5823 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (352) 289-6075 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (360) 589-5263 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (410) 934-1331 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (443) 327-9018 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (443) 327-9026 | 2 | 0.2% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (855) 275-1333 | 7 | 0.8% |
| (646) 396-9791 | 6 | 0.7% |
| (773) 273-6136 | 6 | 0.7% |
| (956) 247-4972 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (646) 396-7357 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (917) 460-2329 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (360) 589-5263 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (845) 445-3682 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (855) 660-2727 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (855) 886-3341 | 3 | 0.4% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (855) 275-1333 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- (773) 273-6136 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.