FCC Consumer Complaints – 17 November 2018
Introduction
On Saturday, 17 November 2018, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 501 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 1174 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 48 states and territories, with California accounting for the largest number of submissions at 84 complaints. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 309 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 501
- States & territories reporting
- 48
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (309)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (84)
Where the complaints came from
On 17 November 2018, the 501 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 350 cities across 48 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
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 | 84 | 16.8% |
| New York | 35 | 7.0% |
| Ohio | 34 | 6.8% |
| Florida | 29 | 5.8% |
| Texas | 25 | 5.0% |
| Georgia | 21 | 4.2% |
| Arizona | 19 | 3.8% |
| North Carolina | 18 | 3.6% |
| Massachusetts | 17 | 3.4% |
| New Jersey | 16 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 203 | 40.5% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 5 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 386 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 386 | 77.0% |
| Internet | 59 | 11.8% |
| TV | 50 | 10.0% |
| Radio | 4 | 0.8% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.4% |
Phone complaints
386 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 77.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 309 | 80.1% |
| Billing | 21 | 5.4% |
| Equipment | 19 | 4.9% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 12 | 3.1% |
| Privacy | 11 | 2.8% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 1.3% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 1.3% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 4 | 1.0% |
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, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion) among the most common.
Internet complaints
59 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 17 | 28.8% |
| Availability | 10 | 16.9% |
| Interference | 10 | 16.9% |
| Speed | 10 | 16.9% |
| Privacy | 9 | 15.3% |
| Equipment | 3 | 5.1% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability and Interference among the most common.
TV complaints
50 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 14 | 28.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 11 | 22.0% |
| Availability | 10 | 20.0% |
| Interference | 5 | 10.0% |
| Equipment | 4 | 8.0% |
| Indecency | 4 | 8.0% |
| Privacy | 2 | 4.0% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Loud Commercials and Availability among the most common.
Unwanted calls
There were 309 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 61.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (617) 314-7399 | 7 | 2.3% |
| (800) 772-1213 | 7 | 2.3% |
| (818) 217-8460 | 3 | 1.0% |
| (202) 798-6940 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (310) 633-2670 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (540) 339-3983 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (718) 568-2230 | 2 | 0.6% |
| (201) 215-5881 | 1 | 0.3% |
| (201) 215-5890 | 1 | 0.3% |
| (201) 241-3193 | 1 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
- Several caller ID numbers were reported multiple times, with no single number clearly ahead of the others.
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.