Dear All,

I picked up a tip on Radio 2 the other day which said that if you do ring anybody regarding any difficult situation, before you start the conversation say, "I wish to inform you that I am recording this conversation for the purposes of aiding my query" - apparently it helps tremendously!!

-- Chris (chris@anon.co.uk), December 21, 2004

Answers

Personally I find that it is better to let them say their bit first, then towards the end of the call I state that everything was recorded.

M

-- Michael (mleo@zcredit.plus.com), January 10, 2005.

If you do not seek their permission to record then the information gleaned from the call would not be admissable in court - a bit of a catch 22 but that's the law I understand!

-- Moira (Anderston828@aol.com), January 13, 2005.

Actually no, that is not quite correct.

A private investigator advised me that he always waits for the other party to hang up, or slam the telephone down as the case may be, then he states for the benefit of the recording that he has just made that the call has been recorded.

While I think this is a bit over the top, it is my understanding that if you state at any time during a telephone call that it has been recorded, then that is ok.

MLJ

-- Michael (mleo@zcredit.co.uk), January 16, 2005.

I believe that the definitive answer on this point is to follow the advice given on this site DON'T PHONE BUT DO WRITE! However, if you have not trawled through all the helpful information on this site then even if you have a good counterclaim they will beat you. Therefore, do not write until you have taken advice or are following the Do's & Don'ts to the letter.

-- Anon (Badger@onetel.com), January 17, 2005.

Just to clarify this point, you must obtain permission from the person your speaking to before you can record the call, if you do not the call is useless and cant be used.

The person on the other end of the phone has every right to terminate the call should you state "I am recording it anyway".

-- Lee Wisener (lee@wisener.net), February 22, 2005.