FCC Consumer Complaints – 30 April 2019

Introduction

On Tuesday, 30 April 2019, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1153 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented an increase from the 1042 complaints recorded the day before. Complaints were reported across 52 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 816 complaints.

Key statistics

Total complaints
1153
States & territories reporting
52
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (816)
Most reported state/territory
California (162)

Where the complaints came from

Reports recorded on 30 April 2019 show 1153 complaints originating from 757 cities across 52 states and territories. Activity was spread across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a substantial share of complaints. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.

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 162 14.1%
New York 84 7.3%
Texas 83 7.2%
Florida 66 5.7%
Pennsylvania 63 5.5%
Illinois 57 4.9%
Michigan 38 3.3%
Ohio 38 3.3%
North Carolina 35 3.0%
Indiana 31 2.7%
Other states and territories 492 42.7%

What the complaints were about

Complaints recorded on this date related to 4 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 970 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 970 84.1%
Internet 91 7.9%
TV 82 7.1%
Radio 10 0.9%

Phone complaints

970 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 84.1% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 816 84.1%
Billing 52 5.4%
Equipment 30 3.1%
Availability (including rural call completion) 22 2.3%
Junk Faxes 12 1.2%
Privacy 10 1.0%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 9 0.9%
Interference (including signal jammers) 9 0.9%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 9 0.9%
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).

Internet complaints

91 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.9% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Availability 32 35.2%
Billing 29 31.9%
Equipment 8 8.8%
Privacy 8 8.8%
Speed 8 8.8%
Interference 6 6.6%

Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.

TV complaints

82 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.1% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 39 47.6%
Availability 28 34.1%
Indecency 6 7.3%
Equipment 4 4.9%
Loud Commercials 3 3.7%
Privacy 2 2.4%

Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.

Unwanted calls

There were 816 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 70.8% 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
(561) 277-6733 8 1.0%
(260) 263-6557 3 0.4%
(800) 674-6917 3 0.4%
(915) 440-4892 3 0.4%
(213) 235-3502 2 0.2%
(401) 213-0363 2 0.2%
(480) 530-0014 2 0.2%
(602) 457-7928 2 0.2%
(620) 213-8164 2 0.2%
(819) 398-1935 2 0.2%

Key patterns

  • Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
  • Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
  • (561) 277-6733 stood out as the most frequently reported caller ID number.
Page last updated: 1 May 2019 with FCC complaints data from 30 April 2019.

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.