FCC Consumer Complaints – 30 August 2019
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 1118 consumer complaints on 30 August 2019 relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 1200 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 49 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 836 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1118
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (836)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (103)
Where the complaints came from
The 1118 complaints recorded on 30 August 2019 were submitted from 720 cities across 49 states and territories. Complaint activity was widely distributed across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a notable share of reports. Despite the overall distribution, a notable concentration at the city level was observed in Colorado, where Fort Morgan accounted for 39 of the 63 complaints recorded in the state.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 103 | 9.2% |
| Ohio | 78 | 7.0% |
| New York | 66 | 5.9% |
| Colorado | 63 | 5.6% |
| Florida | 62 | 5.5% |
| Texas | 57 | 5.1% |
| Illinois | 50 | 4.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 48 | 4.3% |
| North Carolina | 42 | 3.8% |
| Virginia | 37 | 3.3% |
| Other states and territories | 511 | 45.7% |
Location highlight
Complaints in Colorado were heavily concentrated in Fort Morgan, which accounted for the majority of reports within the state.
What the complaints were about
A total of 4 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 949 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 949 | 84.9% |
| TV | 89 | 8.0% |
| Internet | 71 | 6.4% |
| Radio | 9 | 0.8% |
Phone complaints
949 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 84.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 836 | 88.1% |
| Billing | 42 | 4.4% |
| Equipment | 26 | 2.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 15 | 1.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 10 | 1.1% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 0.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.5% |
| Privacy | 5 | 0.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 3 | 0.3% |
| 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).
TV complaints
89 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 43 | 48.3% |
| Availability | 28 | 31.5% |
| Equipment | 8 | 9.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 5 | 5.6% |
| Indecency | 2 | 2.2% |
| Interference | 2 | 2.2% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.1% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
71 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 31 | 43.7% |
| Billing | 23 | 32.4% |
| Interference | 6 | 8.5% |
| Speed | 6 | 8.5% |
| Equipment | 3 | 4.2% |
| Privacy | 2 | 2.8% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
There were 836 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 74.8% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (630) 348-9959 | 11 | 1.3% |
| (719) 452-8970 | 9 | 1.1% |
| (970) 399-1618 | 6 | 0.7% |
| (508) 251-5114 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (800) 275-2273 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (508) 306-8419 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (773) 887-1065 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (206) 438-3232 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (256) 210-1059 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (316) 281-2316 | 2 | 0.2% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (719) 452-8970 | 9 | 1.1% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 7 | 0.8% |
| (970) 399-1618 | 6 | 0.7% |
| (773) 887-1065 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (845) 630-0157 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (941) 213-2821 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (201) 256-3970 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (206) 309-9231 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (256) 210-1059 | 2 | 0.2% |
| (407) 815-8444 | 2 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (719) 452-8970 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- (630) 348-9959 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.