FCC Consumer Complaints – 14 March 2019
Introduction
A total of 1299 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 14 March 2019, this represented a decline from the 1402 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 976 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1299
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (976)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (135)
Where the complaints came from
The 1299 complaints recorded on 14 March 2019 originated from 831 cities across 51 states and territories. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. 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 | 135 | 10.4% |
| Texas | 107 | 8.2% |
| New York | 73 | 5.6% |
| Florida | 71 | 5.5% |
| Ohio | 59 | 4.5% |
| Virginia | 58 | 4.5% |
| Wisconsin | 57 | 4.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 56 | 4.3% |
| Massachusetts | 46 | 3.5% |
| Georgia | 44 | 3.4% |
| Other states and territories | 590 | 45.4% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 1118 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1118 | 86.1% |
| TV | 85 | 6.5% |
| Internet | 77 | 5.9% |
| Radio | 15 | 1.2% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.2% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
1118 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 86.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 976 | 87.3% |
| Billing | 49 | 4.4% |
| Equipment | 25 | 2.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 16 | 1.4% |
| Privacy | 15 | 1.3% |
| Junk Faxes | 14 | 1.3% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 9 | 0.8% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 0.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.4% |
| 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. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion) among the most common.
TV complaints
85 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 34 | 40.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 15 | 17.6% |
| Availability | 11 | 12.9% |
| Equipment | 10 | 11.8% |
| Interference | 7 | 8.2% |
| Indecency | 6 | 7.1% |
| Privacy | 2 | 2.4% |
Billing represented the largest share of complaints recorded in this category, with lower volumes reported across the remaining issues.
Internet complaints
77 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 5.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 24 | 31.2% |
| Availability | 23 | 29.9% |
| Speed | 15 | 19.5% |
| Equipment | 5 | 6.5% |
| Interference | 5 | 6.5% |
| Privacy | 5 | 6.5% |
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 976 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 75.1% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (303) 692-2190 | 6 | 0.6% |
| (704) 550-3368 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (704) 550-3424 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (301) 242-0587 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (434) 661-6092 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (434) 661-6194 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (575) 205-5833 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (704) 550-3417 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (704) 550-3420 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (704) 550-3436 | 3 | 0.3% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (303) 692-2190 | 6 | 0.6% |
| (704) 550-3417 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (704) 550-3436 | 5 | 0.5% |
| (704) 550-3433 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (850) 601-9023 | 4 | 0.4% |
| (301) 242-0587 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (562) 374-8360 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (704) 550-3420 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (704) 550-3424 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (301) 335-4093 | 2 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by call type.
- (303) 692-2190 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- (303) 692-2190 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.