FCC Consumer Complaints – 8 September 2018

Introduction

On 8 September 2018, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 465 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume fell from 1160 complaints the day before. Complaints were reported across 48 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 269 complaints.

Key statistics

Total complaints
465
States & territories reporting
48
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (269)
Most reported state/territory
California (60)

Where the complaints came from

On 8 September 2018, the 465 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 345 cities across 48 states and territories. 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 distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.

State/Territory Complaints
California 60 12.9%
Florida 49 10.5%
Texas 36 7.7%
New York 28 6.0%
New Jersey 23 4.9%
Ohio 21 4.5%
Illinois 18 3.9%
Pennsylvania 15 3.2%
Virginia 15 3.2%
Washington 14 3.0%
Other states and territories 186 40.0%

What the complaints were about

The complaints recorded on this date fell into 6 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 330 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 330 71.0%
Internet 62 13.3%
TV 60 12.9%
Radio 10 2.2%
Emergency 2 0.4%
Accessibility 1 0.2%

Phone complaints

330 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 71.0% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 269 81.5%
Billing 26 7.9%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 8 2.4%
Availability (including rural call completion) 7 2.1%
Equipment 7 2.1%
Privacy 6 1.8%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 4 1.2%
Interference (including signal jammers) 1 0.3%
Junk Faxes 1 0.3%
Rural Call Completion 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 Billing, Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) and Availability (including rural call completion).

Internet complaints

62 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.3% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 17 27.4%
Availability 15 24.2%
Speed 11 17.7%
Interference 10 16.1%
Equipment 6 9.7%
Privacy 3 4.8%

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

TV complaints

60 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.9% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 31 51.7%
Availability 15 25.0%
Equipment 5 8.3%
Indecency 5 8.3%
Loud Commercials 3 5.0%
Interference 1 1.7%

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

Page last updated: 10 December 2018 with FCC complaints data from 8 September 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.