FCC Consumer Complaints – 30 October 2019
Introduction
A total of 1111 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday, 30 October 2019, this represented a decline from the 1133 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 52 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 725 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1111
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (725)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (144)
Where the complaints came from
A total of 1111 complaints were recorded on 30 October 2019, with reports originating from 769 cities in 52 states and territories. Activity was spread across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a substantial share of complaints. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 144 | 13.0% |
| Florida | 85 | 7.7% |
| Texas | 69 | 6.2% |
| New York | 57 | 5.1% |
| Washington | 49 | 4.4% |
| Ohio | 46 | 4.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 43 | 3.9% |
| New Jersey | 40 | 3.6% |
| Virginia | 37 | 3.3% |
| Georgia | 36 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 497 | 44.7% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 883 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 883 | 79.5% |
| Internet | 103 | 9.3% |
| TV | 102 | 9.2% |
| Radio | 16 | 1.4% |
| Emergency | 6 | 0.5% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
883 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 79.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 725 | 82.1% |
| Billing | 55 | 6.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 26 | 2.9% |
| Equipment | 25 | 2.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 13 | 1.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 12 | 1.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 10 | 1.1% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 8 | 0.9% |
| Privacy | 8 | 0.9% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
103 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 47 | 45.6% |
| Availability | 33 | 32.0% |
| Equipment | 7 | 6.8% |
| Speed | 7 | 6.8% |
| Interference | 5 | 4.9% |
| Privacy | 4 | 3.9% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
102 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 53 | 52.0% |
| Availability | 29 | 28.4% |
| Indecency | 7 | 6.9% |
| Equipment | 4 | 3.9% |
| Interference | 4 | 3.9% |
| Privacy | 3 | 2.9% |
| Loud Commercials | 2 | 2.0% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
725 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 65.3% 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 | 7 | 1.0% |
| (800) 275-2273 | 4 | 0.6% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (201) 416-0198 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (201) 710-7250 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (202) 918-1217 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (321) 206-8042 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (352) 577-0364 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (619) 281-6186 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (619) 478-7447 | 2 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (888) 636-3834 was reported slightly more often than other business contact numbers.
- 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.