FCC Consumer Complaints – 18 November 2018

Introduction

The Federal Communications Commission recorded 254 consumer complaints on 18 November 2018 relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 501 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 42 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 103 complaints recorded.

Key statistics

Total complaints
254
States & territories reporting
42
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (103)
Most reported state/territory
California (29)

Where the complaints came from

A total of 254 complaints were recorded on 18 November 2018, with reports originating from 202 cities in 42 states and territories. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large share of reports. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.

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 29 11.4%
Texas 21 8.3%
Pennsylvania 19 7.5%
New York 17 6.7%
New Jersey 15 5.9%
Florida 11 4.3%
Kentucky 11 4.3%
Georgia 10 3.9%
Michigan 10 3.9%
Virginia 10 3.9%
Other states and territories 101 39.8%

What the complaints were about

The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 5 complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 156 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 156 61.4%
TV 52 20.5%
Internet 36 14.2%
Radio 9 3.5%
Accessibility 1 0.4%

Phone complaints

156 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 61.4% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 103 66.0%
Equipment 19 12.2%
Billing 13 8.3%
Availability (including rural call completion) 8 5.1%
Junk Faxes 4 2.6%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 4 2.6%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 2 1.3%
Interference (including signal jammers) 2 1.3%
Privacy 1 0.6%

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 Equipment, Billing and Availability (including rural call completion).

TV complaints

52 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 20.5% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 22 42.3%
Availability 8 15.4%
Loud Commercials 8 15.4%
Indecency 7 13.5%
Interference 5 9.6%
Equipment 2 3.8%

Billing was the most commonly reported issue in this category, while other issues occurred less frequently.

Internet complaints

36 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.2% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 8 22.2%
Privacy 8 22.2%
Availability 7 19.4%
Equipment 5 13.9%
Interference 4 11.1%
Speed 4 11.1%

The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Privacy and Availability.

Page last updated: 10 December 2018 with FCC complaints data from 18 November 2018.

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.