FCC Consumer Complaints – 28 February 2019
Introduction
A total of 1163 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday, 28 February 2019, this represented a decline from the 1250 complaints recorded the day before. Complaints were reported across 51 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 840 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1163
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (840)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (119)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 28 February 2019 show 1163 complaints originating from 750 cities across 51 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 distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 119 | 10.2% |
| Florida | 91 | 7.8% |
| Texas | 80 | 6.9% |
| New York | 63 | 5.4% |
| Ohio | 58 | 5.0% |
| Illinois | 53 | 4.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 45 | 3.9% |
| New Jersey | 44 | 3.8% |
| North Carolina | 43 | 3.7% |
| Virginia | 35 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 526 | 45.2% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 5 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 981 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 981 | 84.4% |
| TV | 95 | 8.2% |
| Internet | 76 | 6.5% |
| Radio | 10 | 0.9% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
981 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 84.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 840 | 85.6% |
| Billing | 42 | 4.3% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 27 | 2.8% |
| Equipment | 27 | 2.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 15 | 1.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 11 | 1.1% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 0.6% |
| Privacy | 6 | 0.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.5% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
| 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. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
TV complaints
95 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 50 | 52.6% |
| Availability | 18 | 18.9% |
| Equipment | 12 | 12.6% |
| Loud Commercials | 10 | 10.5% |
| Interference | 3 | 3.2% |
| Indecency | 2 | 2.1% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
76 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 25 | 32.9% |
| Billing | 19 | 25.0% |
| Speed | 11 | 14.5% |
| Interference | 10 | 13.2% |
| Equipment | 6 | 7.9% |
| Privacy | 5 | 6.6% |
Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Availability, Billing and Speed.
Unwanted calls
There were 840 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 72.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (850) 855-4250 | 9 | 1.1% |
| (850) 855-4259 | 6 | 0.7% |
| (800) 945-2000 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (704) 550-2257 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (804) 352-1001 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (305) 234-4565 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (408) 606-5775 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (435) 214-0699 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (619) 345-7959 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (702) 389-3981 | 2 | 0.2% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (850) 855-4250 | 9 | 1.1% |
| (850) 855-4259 | 6 | 0.7% |
| (877) 353-7092 | 6 | 0.7% |
| (804) 352-1001 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (888) 496-1141 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (305) 234-4565 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (310) 596-3987 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (424) 271-8639 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (619) 345-7959 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (712) 883-0082 | 2 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by call type.
- (850) 855-4250 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- (850) 855-4250 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.