FCC Consumer Complaints – 9 October 2018
Introduction
A total of 1341 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 9 October 2018, complaint volume increased from 949 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 927 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1341
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (927)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (148)
Where the complaints came from
The 1341 complaints recorded on 9 October 2018 were submitted from 867 cities across 52 states and territories. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. At the city level, a significant concentration was observed in Arkansas, where Fayetteville accounted for 26 of the 32 complaints recorded.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 148 | 11.0% |
| Texas | 111 | 8.3% |
| Florida | 110 | 8.2% |
| New York | 87 | 6.5% |
| North Carolina | 61 | 4.5% |
| Illinois | 52 | 3.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 47 | 3.5% |
| Colorado | 43 | 3.2% |
| New Jersey | 42 | 3.1% |
| Georgia | 41 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 593 | 44.2% |
Location highlight
A large share of complaints in Arkansas originated from Fayetteville, which accounted for most reports within the state.
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 5 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 1123 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1123 | 83.7% |
| TV | 115 | 8.6% |
| Internet | 91 | 6.8% |
| Radio | 10 | 0.7% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
1123 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 83.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 927 | 82.5% |
| Billing | 65 | 5.8% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 44 | 3.9% |
| Equipment | 34 | 3.0% |
| Privacy | 13 | 1.2% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 12 | 1.1% |
| Junk Faxes | 11 | 1.0% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 10 | 0.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 0.4% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.1% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
TV complaints
115 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 51 | 44.3% |
| Availability | 26 | 22.6% |
| Equipment | 18 | 15.7% |
| Indecency | 8 | 7.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 6 | 5.2% |
| Privacy | 4 | 3.5% |
| Interference | 2 | 1.7% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Internet complaints
91 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 30 | 33.0% |
| Availability | 25 | 27.5% |
| Speed | 11 | 12.1% |
| Privacy | 10 | 11.0% |
| Interference | 8 | 8.8% |
| Equipment | 7 | 7.7% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
A total of 927 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 69.1% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact numbers are shown below where sufficient data is available.
Most reported caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (201) 215-1853 | 7 | 0.8% |
| (800) 847-2911 | 6 | 0.6% |
| (201) 215-1836 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (201) 215-1848 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (201) 215-1635 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (201) 215-1819 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (201) 215-1746 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (201) 215-1807 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (201) 215-1830 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (510) 323-0231 | 3 | 0.3% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (201) 215-1836 | 7 | 0.8% |
| (800) 847-2911 | 6 | 0.6% |
| (201) 215-1819 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (201) 215-1848 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (201) 215-1853 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (510) 323-0231 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (912) 217-5981 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (201) 829-3078 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (210) 361-6642 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (216) 647-3833 | 2 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by call type.
- (201) 215-1836 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- (201) 215-1853 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.