FCC Consumer Complaints – 22 March 2019
Introduction
A total of 1152 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 22 March 2019, this represented a decline from the 1153 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 50 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 791 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1152
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (791)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (128)
Where the complaints came from
The 1152 complaints recorded on 22 March 2019 originated from 763 cities across 50 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant share. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 128 | 11.1% |
| Texas | 96 | 8.3% |
| Florida | 82 | 7.1% |
| New York | 70 | 6.1% |
| Ohio | 63 | 5.5% |
| New Jersey | 50 | 4.3% |
| Illinois | 47 | 4.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 45 | 3.9% |
| Michigan | 41 | 3.6% |
| Virginia | 36 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 488 | 42.4% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 7 different complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 954 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 954 | 82.8% |
| TV | 109 | 9.5% |
| Internet | 76 | 6.6% |
| Radio | 8 | 0.7% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.3% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
954 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 82.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 791 | 82.9% |
| Billing | 68 | 7.1% |
| Equipment | 20 | 2.1% |
| Privacy | 19 | 2.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 18 | 1.9% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 16 | 1.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 9 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 7 | 0.7% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 0.5% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.1% |
As is typical for this category, unwanted calls accounted for the largest share of complaints. A more detailed analysis of these reports is provided in the section below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Equipment and Privacy.
TV complaints
109 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 47 | 43.1% |
| Availability | 23 | 21.1% |
| Indecency | 20 | 18.3% |
| Equipment | 9 | 8.3% |
| Loud Commercials | 5 | 4.6% |
| Interference | 4 | 3.7% |
| Privacy | 1 | 0.9% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Internet complaints
76 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 24 | 31.6% |
| Availability | 22 | 28.9% |
| Speed | 9 | 11.8% |
| Equipment | 8 | 10.5% |
| Privacy | 7 | 9.2% |
| Interference | 6 | 7.9% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
791 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 68.7% of all complaints. Reports referenced both caller ID numbers and business contact numbers, with number tables shown where meaningful patterns are present.
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (267) 371-5389 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (267) 371-5374 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (305) 421-0400 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (732) 302-8024 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (216) 650-1914 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (267) 371-5189 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (267) 371-5249 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (267) 371-5318 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (559) 342-2194 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (817) 310-9343 | 2 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by call type.
- (267) 371-5389 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- Reports were spread across many different caller ID numbers, with no single number dominating.
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.