FCC Consumer Complaints – 18 September 2022

Introduction

A total of 398 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 18 September 2022, complaint volume fell from 473 complaints the day before. Complaints were reported across 44 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 140 complaints.

Key statistics

Total complaints
398
States & territories reporting
44
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (140)
Most reported state/territory
California (64)

Where the complaints came from

Across 273 cities in 44 states and territories, a total of 398 complaints were recorded on 18 September 2022. Activity was spread across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a substantial share of complaints. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.

The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.

State/Territory Complaints
California 64 16.1%
Florida 36 9.0%
Pennsylvania 27 6.8%
Texas 24 6.0%
Arizona 19 4.8%
New York 19 4.8%
Virginia 19 4.8%
Georgia 15 3.8%
North Carolina 14 3.5%
Michigan 12 3.0%
Other states and territories 149 37.4%

What the complaints were about

The complaints recorded on this date fell into 7 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 248 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 248 62.3%
Internet 88 22.1%
TV 50 12.6%
Radio 5 1.3%
Broadband Story 3 0.8%
Emergency 3 0.8%
Accessibility 1 0.3%

Phone complaints

248 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 62.3% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 140 56.5%
Availability (including rural call completion) 32 12.9%
Billing 28 11.3%
Equipment 19 7.7%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 14 5.6%
Privacy 6 2.4%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 5 2.0%
Interference (including signal jammers) 2 0.8%
Rural Call Completion 1 0.4%
Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) 1 0.4%

As is typical for this category, unwanted calls accounted for the largest share of complaints. A more detailed analysis of these reports is provided in the section below. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Availability (including rural call completion), Billing and Equipment among the most common.

Internet complaints

88 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 22.1% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Availability 37 42.0%
Billing 30 34.1%
Equipment 8 9.1%
Interference 6 6.8%
Speed 4 4.5%
Privacy 3 3.4%

The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.

TV complaints

50 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.6% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Availability 26 52.0%
Billing 8 16.0%
Loud Commercials 8 16.0%
Indecency 7 14.0%
Interference 1 2.0%

The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.

Unwanted calls

140 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 35.2% of all complaints. Reports referenced both caller ID numbers and business contact numbers, with number tables shown where meaningful patterns are present.

Most reported caller ID numbers

Telephone number Complaints Share
(888) 594-6814 13 9.3%
(657) 427-7141 2 1.4%
(211) 870-7510 1 0.7%
(213) 460-8635 1 0.7%
(213) 592-2937 1 0.7%
(251) 318-1206 1 0.7%
(254) 282-8872 1 0.7%
(305) 200-0222 1 0.7%
(305) 909-8731 1 0.7%
(310) 361-7571 1 0.7%

Key patterns

  • None accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by service type.
  • Text Message was reported slightly more often than other call types.
  • Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
  • (888) 594-6814 stood out as the most frequently reported caller ID number.
Page last updated: 19 September 2022 with FCC complaints data from 18 September 2022.

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.