FCC Consumer Complaints – 14 October 2019
Introduction
On 14 October 2019, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 806 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume increased from 261 complaints the previous day. Reports were received from 51 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 478 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 806
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (478)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (92)
Where the complaints came from
The 806 complaints recorded on 14 October 2019 originated from 554 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
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 | 92 | 11.4% |
| Texas | 62 | 7.7% |
| Florida | 60 | 7.4% |
| North Carolina | 45 | 5.6% |
| New York | 37 | 4.6% |
| Georgia | 36 | 4.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 30 | 3.7% |
| Arizona | 28 | 3.5% |
| Virginia | 28 | 3.5% |
| Ohio | 25 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 363 | 45.0% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 5 complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 588 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 588 | 73.0% |
| TV | 116 | 14.4% |
| Internet | 90 | 11.2% |
| Radio | 10 | 1.2% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
588 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 73.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 478 | 81.3% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 35 | 6.0% |
| Billing | 30 | 5.1% |
| Equipment | 23 | 3.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 1.0% |
| Junk Faxes | 6 | 1.0% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 6 | 1.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 2 | 0.3% |
| Privacy | 2 | 0.3% |
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 Availability (including rural call completion), Billing and Equipment.
TV complaints
116 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 62 | 53.4% |
| Availability | 33 | 28.4% |
| Indecency | 7 | 6.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 7 | 6.0% |
| Equipment | 5 | 4.3% |
| Interference | 2 | 1.7% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Internet complaints
90 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 35 | 38.9% |
| Availability | 34 | 37.8% |
| Privacy | 6 | 6.7% |
| Speed | 6 | 6.7% |
| Equipment | 5 | 5.6% |
| Interference | 4 | 4.4% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
478 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 59.3% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (888) 636-3834 | 6 | 1.3% |
| (360) 365-5550 | 3 | 0.6% |
| (386) 868-2839 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (470) 451-0121 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (866) 656-5153 | 2 | 0.4% |
| (202) 381-8425 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (202) 918-5565 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (203) 350-8706 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (205) 270-4173 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (205) 270-4300 | 1 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (888) 636-3834 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
- 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.