FCC Consumer Complaints – 7 March 2019
Introduction
On Thursday, 7 March 2019, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1240 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was higher than the 1212 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 50 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 874 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1240
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (874)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (138)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 7 March 2019 show 1240 complaints originating from 805 cities across 50 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant share. 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 | 138 | 11.1% |
| Texas | 95 | 7.7% |
| Florida | 80 | 6.5% |
| New York | 74 | 6.0% |
| Georgia | 55 | 4.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 50 | 4.0% |
| Ohio | 49 | 4.0% |
| New Jersey | 47 | 3.8% |
| Illinois | 44 | 3.5% |
| North Carolina | 38 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 568 | 45.8% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 5 complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 1034 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1034 | 83.4% |
| TV | 119 | 9.6% |
| Internet | 72 | 5.8% |
| Radio | 12 | 1.0% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
1034 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 83.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 874 | 84.5% |
| Billing | 59 | 5.7% |
| Equipment | 23 | 2.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 22 | 2.1% |
| Junk Faxes | 20 | 1.9% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 15 | 1.5% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 9 | 0.9% |
| Privacy | 7 | 0.7% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 4 | 0.4% |
| Rural Call Completion | 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, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).
TV complaints
119 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 51 | 42.9% |
| Indecency | 21 | 17.6% |
| Availability | 16 | 13.4% |
| Equipment | 15 | 12.6% |
| Loud Commercials | 12 | 10.1% |
| Interference | 2 | 1.7% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.7% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Indecency, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
72 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 5.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 29 | 40.3% |
| Availability | 18 | 25.0% |
| Speed | 11 | 15.3% |
| Interference | 6 | 8.3% |
| Equipment | 5 | 6.9% |
| Privacy | 3 | 4.2% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
A total of 874 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 70.5% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact numbers are shown below where sufficient data is available.
Most reported caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (704) 550-2894 | 7 | 0.8% |
| (704) 550-2916 | 6 | 0.7% |
| (888) 410-1633 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (704) 550-2809 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (800) 945-2000 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (515) 400-2698 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (561) 225-2282 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (614) 412-0138 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (704) 550-2800 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (704) 550-2815 | 2 | 0.2% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (704) 550-2916 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (704) 550-2894 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (888) 410-1633 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (704) 550-2788 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (704) 550-2815 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (800) 847-2911 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (866) 210-1056 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (312) 492-8550 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (502) 395-9081 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (561) 225-2282 | 2 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by call type.
- (704) 550-2916 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- (704) 550-2894 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.