diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/number_fluent.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/number_fluent.cpp
index a5e7f894baf..597df575870 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/number_fluent.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/number_fluent.cpp
@@ -787,6 +787,7 @@ void FormattedNumber::populateFieldPosition(FieldPosition& fieldPosition, UError
         return;
     }
     // in case any users were depending on the old behavior:
+    fieldPosition.setBeginIndex(0);
     fieldPosition.setEndIndex(0);
     fResults->string.nextFieldPosition(fieldPosition, status);
 }
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/numberformatter.h b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/numberformatter.h
index 8904a308191..e44259c6e8c 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/numberformatter.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/numberformatter.h
@@ -1791,12 +1791,12 @@ class U_I18N_API NumberFormatterSettings {
      * numbering system.
      *
      * <p>
-     * <strong>Note:</strong> Calling this method will override any previously specified DecimalFormatSymbols
-     * or NumberingSystem.
+     * <strong>Note:</strong> The instance of DecimalFormatSymbols will be copied: changes made to the symbols object
+     * after passing it into the fluent chain will not be seen.
      *
      * <p>
-     * <strong>Note:</strong> Calling this method will override the NumberingSystem previously specified in
-     * {@link #symbols(NumberingSystem)}.
+     * <strong>Note:</strong> Calling this method will override any previously specified DecimalFormatSymbols
+     * or NumberingSystem.
      *
      * <p>
      * The default is to choose the symbols based on the locale specified in the fluent chain.