FCC Consumer Complaints – 5 May 2018
Introduction
On Saturday, 5 May 2018, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 407 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 1178 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 39 states and territories, with California accounting for the largest number of submissions at 81 complaints. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 215 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 407
- States & territories reporting
- 39
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (215)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (81)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 5 May 2018 show 407 complaints originating from 311 cities across 39 states and territories. Compared with most days, complaint activity was more concentrated, with California contributing the largest share of complaints. Complaints at the city level were distributed across multiple locations, with no single city accounting for a notable share.
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 | 81 | 19.9% |
| Florida | 38 | 9.3% |
| Illinois | 21 | 5.2% |
| Texas | 20 | 4.9% |
| New York | 18 | 4.4% |
| Ohio | 17 | 4.2% |
| North Carolina | 16 | 3.9% |
| New Jersey | 16 | 3.9% |
| Maryland | 15 | 3.7% |
| Arizona | 14 | 3.4% |
| Other states and territories | 151 | 37.1% |
Location highlight
Complaints in California were reported across 43 cities, the widest spread observed on this date.
What the complaints were about
A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 307 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 307 | 75.4% |
| Internet | 47 | 11.5% |
| TV | 32 | 7.9% |
| Radio | 16 | 3.9% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.7% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.5% |
Phone complaints
307 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 75.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 215 | 70.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 31 | 10.1% |
| Billing | 22 | 7.2% |
| Equipment | 17 | 5.5% |
| Privacy | 7 | 2.3% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 1.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 5 | 1.6% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 3 | 1.0% |
| Junk Faxes | 1 | 0.3% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.3% |
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 Availability (including rural call completion), Billing and Equipment.
Internet complaints
47 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 12 | 25.5% |
| Speed | 10 | 21.3% |
| Availability | 9 | 19.1% |
| Privacy | 6 | 12.8% |
| Interference | 5 | 10.6% |
| Equipment | 3 | 6.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 4.3% |
Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Speed and Availability.
TV complaints
32 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 13 | 40.6% |
| Loud Commercials | 7 | 21.9% |
| Availability | 6 | 18.8% |
| Equipment | 2 | 6.3% |
| Indecency | 2 | 6.3% |
| Privacy | 2 | 6.3% |
Billing and Loud Commercials accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
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.