FCC Consumer Complaints – 20 September 2018
Introduction
A total of 1282 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 20 September 2018, this represented a decline from the 1318 complaints recorded the previous day. The complaints came from 49 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 891 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1282
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (891)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (134)
Where the complaints came from
On 20 September 2018, the 1282 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 805 cities across 49 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 | 134 | 10.5% |
| Virginia | 113 | 8.8% |
| Florida | 99 | 7.7% |
| Texas | 89 | 6.9% |
| New Jersey | 60 | 4.7% |
| New York | 55 | 4.3% |
| Ohio | 48 | 3.7% |
| Michigan | 43 | 3.4% |
| Illinois | 40 | 3.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 39 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 562 | 43.8% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 5 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 1111 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1111 | 86.7% |
| Internet | 82 | 6.4% |
| TV | 79 | 6.2% |
| Radio | 9 | 0.7% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
1111 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 86.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 891 | 80.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 88 | 7.9% |
| Billing | 45 | 4.1% |
| Equipment | 26 | 2.3% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 17 | 1.5% |
| Privacy | 17 | 1.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 13 | 1.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 8 | 0.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 3 | 0.3% |
| Rural Call Completion | 2 | 0.2% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 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 Availability (including rural call completion), Billing and Equipment.
Internet complaints
82 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 26 | 31.7% |
| Availability | 21 | 25.6% |
| Speed | 16 | 19.5% |
| Interference | 9 | 11.0% |
| Equipment | 6 | 7.3% |
| Privacy | 4 | 4.9% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Speed.
TV complaints
79 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 38 | 48.1% |
| Availability | 19 | 24.1% |
| Equipment | 10 | 12.7% |
| Indecency | 5 | 6.3% |
| Loud Commercials | 4 | 5.1% |
| Privacy | 2 | 2.5% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.3% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
891 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 69.5% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (216) 330-4430 | 7 | 0.8% |
| (201) 215-9143 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (929) 214-1252 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (201) 215-9149 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (201) 215-9163 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (302) 202-5569 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (337) 600-1086 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (551) 225-8299 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (712) 320-8385 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (787) 302-2118 | 3 | 0.3% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (201) 215-9143 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (929) 214-1252 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (302) 202-5569 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (337) 600-1086 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (866) 978-0708 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (201) 215-6261 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (201) 215-9121 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (201) 215-9149 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (239) 232-4850 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (551) 225-8299 | 3 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by call type.
- Several business contact numbers were reported multiple times, with no single number clearly ahead of the others.
- (216) 330-4430 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.