FCC Consumer Complaints – 28 August 2019
Introduction
A total of 1307 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday, 28 August 2019, complaint volume fell from 1477 complaints the day before. Complaints were reported across 50 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 904 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1307
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (904)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (156)
Where the complaints came from
The 1307 complaints recorded on 28 August 2019 were submitted from 807 cities across 50 states and territories. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
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 | 156 | 11.9% |
| Texas | 107 | 8.2% |
| New York | 72 | 5.5% |
| North Carolina | 69 | 5.3% |
| Florida | 66 | 5.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 65 | 5.0% |
| Ohio | 64 | 4.9% |
| Illinois | 49 | 3.7% |
| Arizona | 45 | 3.4% |
| Maryland | 35 | 2.7% |
| Other states and territories | 578 | 44.2% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 7 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 1077 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1077 | 82.4% |
| TV | 110 | 8.4% |
| Internet | 104 | 8.0% |
| Radio | 10 | 0.8% |
| Emergency | 4 | 0.3% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
1077 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 82.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 904 | 83.9% |
| Billing | 62 | 5.8% |
| Equipment | 38 | 3.5% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 28 | 2.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 18 | 1.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 13 | 1.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 0.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 0.3% |
| Privacy | 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. 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
110 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 50 | 45.5% |
| Availability | 44 | 40.0% |
| Indecency | 6 | 5.5% |
| Equipment | 5 | 4.5% |
| Loud Commercials | 3 | 2.7% |
| Interference | 1 | 0.9% |
| Privacy | 1 | 0.9% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Internet complaints
104 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 49 | 47.1% |
| Billing | 37 | 35.6% |
| Speed | 8 | 7.7% |
| Interference | 4 | 3.8% |
| Equipment | 3 | 2.9% |
| Privacy | 3 | 2.9% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
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.