FCC Consumer Complaints – 5 July 2018
Introduction
On Thursday, 5 July 2018, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1158 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume increased from 417 complaints the day before. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 810 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1158
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (810)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (143)
Where the complaints came from
Across 759 cities in 51 states and territories, a total of 1158 complaints were recorded on 5 July 2018. 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 distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 143 | 12.3% |
| Texas | 100 | 8.6% |
| Florida | 80 | 6.9% |
| New York | 71 | 6.1% |
| Arizona | 41 | 3.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 40 | 3.5% |
| New Jersey | 38 | 3.3% |
| Washington | 38 | 3.3% |
| Georgia | 34 | 2.9% |
| Illinois | 33 | 2.8% |
| Other states and territories | 539 | 46.5% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 6 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 977 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 977 | 84.4% |
| TV | 91 | 7.9% |
| Internet | 72 | 6.2% |
| Radio | 14 | 1.2% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.3% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
977 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 84.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 810 | 82.9% |
| Billing | 74 | 7.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 28 | 2.9% |
| Equipment | 19 | 1.9% |
| Privacy | 12 | 1.2% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 11 | 1.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 11 | 1.1% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 0.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 4 | 0.4% |
| Rural Call Completion | 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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
TV complaints
91 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 41 | 45.1% |
| Billing | 34 | 37.4% |
| Equipment | 5 | 5.5% |
| Indecency | 5 | 5.5% |
| Loud Commercials | 4 | 4.4% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.1% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.1% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
72 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 20 | 27.8% |
| Availability | 18 | 25.0% |
| Speed | 12 | 16.7% |
| Equipment | 8 | 11.1% |
| Interference | 7 | 9.7% |
| Privacy | 7 | 9.7% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Speed.
Unwanted calls
There were 810 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 69.9% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (731) 212-8025 | 12 | 1.5% |
| (731) 213-1940 | 9 | 1.1% |
| (203) 409-8737 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (585) 633-1462 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (800) 391-3000 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (848) 373-3890 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (904) 638-7209 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (210) 405-8433 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (215) 586-4789 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (301) 276-4757 | 2 | 0.2% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (731) 212-8025 | 10 | 1.2% |
| (731) 213-1940 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (585) 633-1462 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (716) 371-8549 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (203) 318-9276 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (210) 405-8433 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (215) 586-4789 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (248) 598-7685 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (301) 276-4757 | 2 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (731) 212-8025 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
- (731) 212-8025 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.