FCC Consumer Complaints – 8 May 2018

Introduction

A total of 1283 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, 8 May 2018, complaint volume increased from 1279 complaints the day before. Reports were received from 51 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 892 complaints.

Key statistics

Total complaints
1283
States & territories reporting
51
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (892)
Most reported state/territory
California (194)

Where the complaints came from

Across 825 cities in 51 states and territories, a total of 1283 complaints were recorded on 8 May 2018. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant 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 194 15.1%
Texas 100 7.8%
Florida 86 6.7%
New York 62 4.8%
North Carolina 57 4.4%
Pennsylvania 53 4.1%
Arizona 41 3.2%
Illinois 40 3.1%
Virginia 39 3.0%
New Jersey 38 3.0%
Other states and territories 568 44.3%

What the complaints were about

The complaints recorded on this date fell into 6 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 1090 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 1090 85.0%
TV 88 6.9%
Internet 86 6.7%
Radio 15 1.2%
Accessibility 3 0.2%
Request for Dispute Assistance 1 0.1%

Phone complaints

1090 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 85.0% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 892 81.8%
Billing 69 6.3%
Availability (including rural call completion) 43 3.9%
Equipment 25 2.3%
Junk Faxes 18 1.7%
Privacy 17 1.6%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 10 0.9%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 8 0.7%
Interference (including signal jammers) 5 0.5%
Rural Call Completion 2 0.2%
Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) 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. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.

TV complaints

88 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.9% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 47 53.4%
Availability 18 20.5%
Equipment 11 12.5%
Indecency 6 6.8%
Interference 3 3.4%
Loud Commercials 1 1.1%
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 1 1.1%
Privacy 1 1.1%

Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.

Internet complaints

86 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.7% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 26 30.2%
Availability 21 24.4%
Speed 15 17.4%
Interference 8 9.3%
Equipment 6 7.0%
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 6 7.0%
Privacy 4 4.7%

Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability and Speed.

Unwanted calls

There were 892 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 69.5% 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
(949) 312-5813 12 1.3%
(541) 223-5761 5 0.6%
(203) 299-2553 3 0.3%
(321) 645-9870 3 0.3%
(646) 396-1930 3 0.3%
(725) 223-1082 3 0.3%
(201) 249-6811 2 0.2%
(202) 779-9592 2 0.2%
(206) 823-3156 2 0.2%
(269) 201-5719 2 0.2%

Most reported business contact numbers

Telephone number Complaints Share
(949) 312-5813 14 1.6%
(541) 223-5761 6 0.7%
(555) 555-5555 4 0.4%
(646) 368-7597 3 0.3%
(646) 396-1930 3 0.3%
(845) 445-3794 3 0.3%
(917) 460-2335 3 0.3%
(206) 823-3156 2 0.2%
(312) 225-5583 2 0.2%
(415) 273-8876 2 0.2%

Key patterns

  • Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
  • (949) 312-5813 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
  • (949) 312-5813 stood out as the most frequently reported caller ID number.
Page last updated: 10 December 2018 with FCC complaints data from 8 May 2018.

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.