FCC Consumer Complaints – 28 November 2018
Introduction
On Wednesday, 28 November 2018, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1528 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was higher than the 1334 complaints recorded 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 988 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1528
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (988)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (161)
Where the complaints came from
The 1528 complaints recorded on 28 November 2018 were submitted from 1014 cities across 52 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location 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 distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 161 | 10.5% |
| Texas | 143 | 9.4% |
| Florida | 102 | 6.7% |
| New York | 83 | 5.4% |
| Illinois | 62 | 4.1% |
| Ohio | 57 | 3.7% |
| Georgia | 56 | 3.7% |
| Wisconsin | 49 | 3.2% |
| Michigan | 48 | 3.1% |
| North Carolina | 48 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 707 | 46.3% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 1253 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1253 | 82.0% |
| TV | 131 | 8.6% |
| Internet | 124 | 8.1% |
| Radio | 15 | 1.0% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.2% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
1253 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 82.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 988 | 78.9% |
| Billing | 106 | 8.5% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 43 | 3.4% |
| Equipment | 41 | 3.3% |
| Junk Faxes | 21 | 1.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 18 | 1.4% |
| Privacy | 14 | 1.1% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 12 | 1.0% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 9 | 0.7% |
| 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 Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
TV complaints
131 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 71 | 54.2% |
| Availability | 22 | 16.8% |
| Loud Commercials | 15 | 11.5% |
| Equipment | 13 | 9.9% |
| Indecency | 8 | 6.1% |
| Interference | 2 | 1.5% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Internet complaints
124 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 45 | 36.3% |
| Availability | 34 | 27.4% |
| Speed | 18 | 14.5% |
| Privacy | 12 | 9.7% |
| Interference | 10 | 8.1% |
| Equipment | 5 | 4.0% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
There were 988 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 64.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (219) 215-1001 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (888) 308-7216 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (206) 801-1172 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (219) 215-1472 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (800) 421-2110 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (800) 772-1213 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (985) 235-9243 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (210) 757-0642 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (210) 875-4194 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (218) 215-2286 | 2 | 0.2% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (555) 555-5555 | 8 | 0.8% |
| (219) 215-1001 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (888) 308-7216 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (219) 215-1567 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (510) 856-1612 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (844) 871-7942 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (985) 235-9243 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (205) 266-0640 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (218) 215-2286 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (219) 215-1472 | 2 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by call type.
- (555) 555-5555 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
- (219) 215-1001 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.