FCC Consumer Complaints – 28 September 2018
Introduction
On Friday, 28 September 2018, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1317 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume fell from 1344 complaints the day before. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 940 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1317
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (940)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (160)
Where the complaints came from
On 28 September 2018, the 1317 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 836 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large share of reports. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
The table below summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 160 | 12.1% |
| Texas | 104 | 7.9% |
| Florida | 103 | 7.8% |
| New York | 80 | 6.1% |
| Ohio | 64 | 4.9% |
| New Jersey | 59 | 4.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 57 | 4.3% |
| Maryland | 47 | 3.6% |
| Michigan | 37 | 2.8% |
| North Carolina | 37 | 2.8% |
| Other states and territories | 567 | 43.1% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 5 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 1102 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1102 | 83.7% |
| Internet | 101 | 7.7% |
| TV | 99 | 7.5% |
| Radio | 14 | 1.1% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
1102 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 83.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 940 | 85.3% |
| Billing | 61 | 5.5% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 36 | 3.3% |
| Equipment | 27 | 2.5% |
| Privacy | 12 | 1.1% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 9 | 0.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 8 | 0.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 4 | 0.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 0.3% |
| Rural Call Completion | 2 | 0.2% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section 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
101 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 33 | 32.7% |
| Availability | 19 | 18.8% |
| Speed | 18 | 17.8% |
| Privacy | 15 | 14.9% |
| Equipment | 10 | 9.9% |
| Interference | 6 | 5.9% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability and Speed among the most common.
TV complaints
99 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 36 | 36.4% |
| Availability | 30 | 30.3% |
| Loud Commercials | 13 | 13.1% |
| Indecency | 10 | 10.1% |
| Equipment | 9 | 9.1% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.0% |
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 940 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 71.4% 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) 215-0104 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (201) 215-0070 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (201) 215-0208 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (308) 872-7733 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (201) 215-5958 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (680) 800-2221 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (717) 722-0489 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (800) 847-2911 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (859) 474-8233 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (201) 215-0027 | 2 | 0.2% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (308) 872-7733 | 6 | 0.6% |
| (201) 215-0070 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (680) 800-2221 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (717) 722-0489 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (859) 474-8233 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (866) 395-0544 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (201) 215-0104 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (201) 215-0208 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (201) 215-5958 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (210) 742-5496 | 2 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by call type.
- (308) 872-7733 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
- (201) 215-0104 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.