AT&T with the highest number of consumer complaints

Records obtained by Consumers Union through the Freedom of Information Act show AT&T Wireless has the highest number of complaints per subscriber of the top six wireless companies, and that consumers in general complained most about billing problems, service quality and transferring their phone numbers when switching companies.

Of the more than 20,000 complaints filed in 2003, AT&T Wireless ranked first among the top six carriers both on a total complaint basis and in complaints adjusted for market share. Verizon had the fewest complaints per subscriber of the major carriers, which is consistent with Consumer Reports' February 2004 analysis that found the company at the top in the 12 metro areas surveyed.

For all of the six national cell phone companies, consumers complained the most about billing problems. Complaints about transferring their phone numbers, service quality, contracts and marketing were close behind.

ConsumerUnion.org