FCC Consumer Complaints – 13 March 2019
Introduction
A total of 1402 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday, 13 March 2019, this represented a decline from the 1472 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 52 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 1018 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1402
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (1018)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (169)
Where the complaints came from
The 1402 complaints recorded on 13 March 2019 originated from 922 cities across 52 states and territories. Complaint reports were spread across multiple states and territories, without any one location accounting for a large 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 | 169 | 12.1% |
| Texas | 107 | 7.6% |
| New York | 88 | 6.3% |
| Florida | 80 | 5.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 66 | 4.7% |
| Virginia | 54 | 3.9% |
| Ohio | 53 | 3.8% |
| Arizona | 48 | 3.4% |
| North Carolina | 48 | 3.4% |
| Washington | 47 | 3.4% |
| Other states and territories | 638 | 45.5% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 1185 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1185 | 84.5% |
| TV | 103 | 7.3% |
| Internet | 95 | 6.8% |
| Radio | 15 | 1.1% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.2% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
1185 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 84.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 1018 | 85.9% |
| Billing | 72 | 6.1% |
| Equipment | 30 | 2.5% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 21 | 1.8% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 15 | 1.3% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 10 | 0.8% |
| Privacy | 7 | 0.6% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 0.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 5 | 0.4% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.1% |
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 Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).
TV complaints
103 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 64 | 62.1% |
| Availability | 11 | 10.7% |
| Equipment | 10 | 9.7% |
| Indecency | 7 | 6.8% |
| Interference | 7 | 6.8% |
| Loud Commercials | 4 | 3.9% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Internet complaints
95 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 40 | 42.1% |
| Speed | 19 | 20.0% |
| Availability | 18 | 18.9% |
| Equipment | 8 | 8.4% |
| Interference | 5 | 5.3% |
| Privacy | 5 | 5.3% |
Billing and Speed were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
A total of 1018 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 72.6% 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) 550-3336 | 6 | 0.6% |
| (704) 550-3280 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (704) 550-3339 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (704) 550-3352 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (704) 550-3356 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (302) 670-7890 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (704) 550-3279 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (704) 550-3292 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (704) 550-3294 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (704) 550-3312 | 3 | 0.3% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (704) 550-3303 | 6 | 0.6% |
| (704) 550-3312 | 6 | 0.6% |
| (704) 550-3352 | 6 | 0.6% |
| (704) 550-3255 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (704) 550-3280 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (302) 670-7890 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (704) 550-3339 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (704) 550-3324 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (704) 550-3336 | 3 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by call type.
- Several business contact numbers were reported multiple times, with no single number clearly ahead of the others.
- (704) 550-3336 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.