FCC Consumer Complaints – 17 September 2018
Introduction
On 17 September 2018, 1086 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this represented an increase from the 250 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 734 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1086
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (734)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (110)
Where the complaints came from
A total of 1086 complaints were recorded on 17 September 2018, with reports originating from 752 cities in 51 states and territories. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. 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 | 110 | 10.1% |
| Florida | 89 | 8.2% |
| Texas | 80 | 7.4% |
| New York | 78 | 7.2% |
| Arizona | 49 | 4.5% |
| Illinois | 48 | 4.4% |
| Ohio | 47 | 4.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 38 | 3.5% |
| New Jersey | 37 | 3.4% |
| Virginia | 35 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 473 | 43.6% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 7 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 883 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 883 | 81.3% |
| Internet | 98 | 9.0% |
| TV | 81 | 7.5% |
| Radio | 10 | 0.9% |
| Accessibility | 9 | 0.8% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.3% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 2 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
883 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 81.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 734 | 83.1% |
| Billing | 58 | 6.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 36 | 4.1% |
| Equipment | 20 | 2.3% |
| Junk Faxes | 10 | 1.1% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 0.7% |
| Privacy | 6 | 0.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 5 | 0.6% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 4 | 0.5% |
| Rural Call Completion | 2 | 0.2% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 2 | 0.2% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment among the most common.
Internet complaints
98 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 26 | 26.5% |
| Billing | 24 | 24.5% |
| Speed | 23 | 23.5% |
| Equipment | 12 | 12.2% |
| Interference | 7 | 7.1% |
| Privacy | 6 | 6.1% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Availability, Billing and Speed among the most common.
TV complaints
81 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 34 | 42.0% |
| Availability | 25 | 30.9% |
| Equipment | 10 | 12.3% |
| Loud Commercials | 5 | 6.2% |
| Interference | 4 | 4.9% |
| Indecency | 2 | 2.5% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.2% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
There were 734 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 67.6% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (201) 204-0628 | 5 | 0.7% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (929) 214-1252 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (201) 204-0066 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (201) 204-0686 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (409) 547-4805 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (201) 204-0024 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (201) 204-0677 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (216) 475-7915 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (231) 508-8095 | 2 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by call type.
- Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
- (201) 204-0628 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.