FCC Consumer Complaints – 29 June 2018

Introduction

On Friday, 29 June 2018, 1177 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this represented a decline from the 1475 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 844 complaints recorded.

Key statistics

Total complaints
1177
States & territories reporting
51
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (844)
Most reported state/territory
California (147)

Where the complaints came from

Across 754 cities in 51 states and territories, a total of 1177 complaints were recorded on 29 June 2018. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. 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 147 12.5%
Florida 103 8.8%
Texas 101 8.6%
New York 70 5.9%
North Carolina 55 4.7%
New Jersey 49 4.2%
Illinois 38 3.2%
Pennsylvania 38 3.2%
Arizona 36 3.1%
Ohio 33 2.8%
Other states and territories 504 42.8%

What the complaints were about

A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 1006 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 1006 85.5%
Internet 84 7.1%
TV 70 5.9%
Radio 11 0.9%
Accessibility 5 0.4%
Emergency 1 0.1%

Phone complaints

1006 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 85.5% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 844 83.9%
Billing 62 6.2%
Equipment 26 2.6%
Availability (including rural call completion) 25 2.5%
Privacy 17 1.7%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 12 1.2%
Junk Faxes 8 0.8%
Interference (including signal jammers) 6 0.6%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 3 0.3%
Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) 3 0.3%

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, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).

Internet complaints

84 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.1% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Availability 27 32.1%
Billing 24 28.6%
Speed 17 20.2%
Equipment 6 7.1%
Interference 6 7.1%
Privacy 4 4.8%

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

TV complaints

70 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 5.9% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 32 45.7%
Availability 13 18.6%
Indecency 12 17.1%
Equipment 9 12.9%
Interference 2 2.9%
Loud Commercials 2 2.9%

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

Unwanted calls

There were 844 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 71.7% 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
(845) 208-0271 9 1.1%
(478) 238-9868 6 0.7%
(828) 759-5639 6 0.7%
(478) 238-9864 4 0.5%
(512) 323-4212 3 0.4%
(518) 636-6960 3 0.4%
(607) 542-3912 3 0.4%
(814) 449-0274 3 0.4%
(202) 860-3275 2 0.2%
(203) 453-2159 2 0.2%

Most reported business contact numbers

Telephone number Complaints Share
(478) 238-9868 5 0.6%
(845) 208-0271 5 0.6%
(555) 555-5555 4 0.5%
(646) 355-3159 4 0.5%
(845) 204-3689 4 0.5%
(478) 238-9864 3 0.4%
(512) 323-4212 3 0.4%
(518) 636-6961 3 0.4%
(206) 854-8363 2 0.2%
(214) 247-7408 2 0.2%

Key patterns

  • Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
  • Several business contact numbers were reported multiple times, with no single number clearly ahead of the others.
  • (845) 208-0271 was reported slightly more often than other caller ID numbers.
Page last updated: 10 December 2018 with FCC complaints data from 29 June 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.