FCC Consumer Complaints – 10 July 2018

Introduction

A total of 1395 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 10 July 2018, complaint volume increased from 1236 complaints the day before. Reports were received from 52 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 922 complaints.

Key statistics

Total complaints
1395
States & territories reporting
52
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (922)
Most reported state/territory
California (225)

Where the complaints came from

A total of 1395 complaints were recorded on 10 July 2018, with reports originating from 886 cities in 52 states and territories. Activity was spread across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a substantial share of complaints. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.

The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.

State/Territory Complaints
California 225 16.1%
Texas 114 8.2%
Florida 99 7.1%
New York 61 4.4%
Ohio 47 3.4%
Virginia 47 3.4%
Pennsylvania 46 3.3%
Georgia 41 2.9%
North Carolina 41 2.9%
Illinois 39 2.8%
Other states and territories 630 45.2%

Location highlight

California had the widest distribution of complaints, with reports originating from 128 different cities.

What the complaints were about

The complaints recorded on this date fell into 5 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 1137 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 1137 81.5%
Internet 127 9.1%
TV 120 8.6%
Radio 8 0.6%
Accessibility 3 0.2%

Phone complaints

1137 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 81.5% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 922 81.1%
Billing 60 5.3%
Availability (including rural call completion) 49 4.3%
Equipment 38 3.3%
Privacy 17 1.5%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 16 1.4%
Interference (including signal jammers) 13 1.1%
Junk Faxes 12 1.1%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 7 0.6%
Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) 2 0.2%
Rural Call Completion 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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.

Internet complaints

127 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.1% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 43 33.9%
Availability 34 26.8%
Speed 14 11.0%
Equipment 13 10.2%
Privacy 13 10.2%
Interference 10 7.9%

The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.

TV complaints

120 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.6% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 58 48.3%
Loud Commercials 27 22.5%
Availability 23 19.2%
Equipment 10 8.3%
Interference 2 1.7%

The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Loud Commercials, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.

Unwanted calls

922 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 66.1% of all complaints. Reports referenced both caller ID numbers and business contact numbers, with number tables shown where meaningful patterns are present.

Most reported caller ID numbers

Telephone number Complaints Share
(347) 491-4832 11 1.2%
(218) 824-7134 3 0.3%
(347) 215-3031 3 0.3%
(386) 204-0839 3 0.3%
(386) 204-0846 3 0.3%
(401) 406-4974 3 0.3%
(401) 406-5709 3 0.3%
(410) 401-8780 3 0.3%
(800) 945-2000 3 0.3%
(216) 269-5555 2 0.2%

Most reported business contact numbers

Telephone number Complaints Share
(347) 491-4832 6 0.7%
(555) 555-5555 5 0.5%
(386) 204-0839 4 0.4%
(319) 674-6161 3 0.3%
(386) 204-0846 3 0.3%
(401) 406-4974 3 0.3%
(401) 406-5709 3 0.3%
(616) 899-9991 3 0.3%
(202) 844-8557 2 0.2%
(206) 452-0627 2 0.2%

Key patterns

  • Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
  • (347) 491-4832 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
  • (347) 491-4832 stood out as the most frequently reported caller ID number.
Page last updated: 10 December 2018 with FCC complaints data from 10 July 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.