FCC Consumer Complaints – 4 December 2018

Introduction

On 4 December 2018, 1269 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, complaint volume increased from 1022 complaints the day before. The complaints came from 53 states and territories, without one location accounting for a clearly higher number of reports. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 848 complaints.

Key statistics

Total complaints
1269
States & territories reporting
53
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (848)

Where the complaints came from

Reports recorded on 4 December 2018 show 1269 complaints originating from 838 cities across 53 states and territories. Complaints were spread broadly across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a significant share. 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 114 9.0%
Florida 114 9.0%
Texas 111 8.7%
New York 78 6.1%
New Jersey 59 4.6%
Illinois 53 4.2%
Pennsylvania 48 3.8%
Georgia 47 3.7%
Ohio 43 3.4%
Arizona 41 3.2%
Other states and territories 550 43.3%

What the complaints were about

The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 1035 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 1035 81.6%
Internet 104 8.2%
TV 104 8.2%
Radio 18 1.4%
Emergency 5 0.4%
Accessibility 3 0.2%

Phone complaints

1035 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 81.6% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 848 81.9%
Billing 88 8.5%
Availability (including rural call completion) 29 2.8%
Equipment 23 2.2%
Junk Faxes 14 1.4%
Privacy 11 1.1%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 10 1.0%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 5 0.5%
Interference (including signal jammers) 5 0.5%
Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) 2 0.2%

As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.

Internet complaints

104 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.2% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 41 39.4%
Availability 26 25.0%
Equipment 11 10.6%
Privacy 11 10.6%
Speed 10 9.6%
Interference 5 4.8%

Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.

TV complaints

104 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.2% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 44 42.3%
Availability 33 31.7%
Loud Commercials 11 10.6%
Equipment 9 8.7%
Indecency 4 3.8%
Privacy 2 1.9%
Interference 1 1.0%

Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.

Page last updated: 10 December 2018 with FCC complaints data from 4 December 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.