FCC Consumer Complaints – 19 August 2019
Introduction
On Monday, 19 August 2019, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1162 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented an increase from the 256 complaints recorded the previous day. The complaints came from 53 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 753 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1162
- States & territories reporting
- 53
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (753)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (99)
Where the complaints came from
On 19 August 2019, the 1162 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 794 cities across 53 states and territories. The complaints were widely dispersed, with no single state or territory representing a notable proportion of the total. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
The table below shows the distribution of complaints by state and territory for this date, highlighting the locations with the highest number of reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 99 | 8.5% |
| Texas | 98 | 8.4% |
| Florida | 91 | 7.8% |
| New York | 68 | 5.9% |
| North Carolina | 55 | 4.7% |
| Ohio | 53 | 4.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 51 | 4.4% |
| Arizona | 44 | 3.8% |
| Georgia | 42 | 3.6% |
| Illinois | 42 | 3.6% |
| Other states and territories | 518 | 44.6% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 7 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 936 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 936 | 80.6% |
| TV | 124 | 10.7% |
| Internet | 82 | 7.1% |
| Radio | 15 | 1.3% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.3% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
936 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 80.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 753 | 80.4% |
| Billing | 67 | 7.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 36 | 3.8% |
| Equipment | 35 | 3.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 17 | 1.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 10 | 1.1% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 8 | 0.9% |
| Privacy | 6 | 0.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 0.3% |
| 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. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
TV complaints
124 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 65 | 52.4% |
| Availability | 44 | 35.5% |
| Equipment | 6 | 4.8% |
| Loud Commercials | 5 | 4.0% |
| Indecency | 4 | 3.2% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
82 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 35 | 42.7% |
| Billing | 25 | 30.5% |
| Equipment | 7 | 8.5% |
| Speed | 6 | 7.3% |
| Interference | 5 | 6.1% |
| Privacy | 4 | 4.9% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
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.