home telephone recording advice

JonTa

Hello all.I've been having a fair bit of trouble with my home telephone provider of late and spent many many telephone calls with so many departments and advisers/ supervisors etc.The one thing that really annoys me is when they tell you "just to inform you that this telephone call is being recorded for quality control and training purposes."In effect they get to keep a record of all thats said (for theyre protection not mine) and when I need them to find some pertinent information that almost certainly has been recorded and retained by them, they conveniently never have it.I then have to rely on my memory of whats been said and after the fact try and decypher my many scrawled notes (usually penned in the heat of angst) on my notepad.Does anyone have,use or can recommend an inexpensive basic home telephone call recording kit?It would be so good to have proof on my side for once.And for once to say back to them "I'm recording this conversation for MY quality control and MY protection!"
Kind regards Jonathan

unhappy_with_ecar

To be honest I wouldn't bother, if you tell them you are recording it they will just end the call. You are entitled to copies of recordings from them under the data protection act subject to paying a fee.
The easiest way though would just be to buy a page a day diary and make notes as you speak to them. Then you can make notes of names, conversations and times, even saying to the person you speak to that you are writing everything down and confirm with them the time so that they realise you are serious. Make a note of what you want them to put on their computer system and get them to read it back to you asking them to also note that you have made a note of what they have written.
Once you have adopted your new system you won't have to decipher scribbled notes or rely on your memory, furthermore your diary is perfectly acceptable as evidence in court

JonTa

thankyou ecar.thats good advice.though i still think id like to try.any advice gratefully recieved

mrtom21

If you do decide to do it, you need to let every advisor you are speak to know you are recording the conversation before you start the conversation... You have as much right to record the call as the company so the advisor should not release you provided you have told them at the start.

Heinz

So we don't have to go through the whole debate about the legality or otherwise of recording telephone conversations, the below links to some previous threads on the subject may be of use:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=160858

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=94058

The best link I found was:

http://www.retellrecorders.co.uk/legal/home.htm

JonTa

Many thanks Heinz thats a good site and well placed advice that you've cited.I was mostly aware(albeit in laymans terms)of the legal side of home telephone call monotoring,but your site certainly clears it up.Sad state of affairs when you have to think of going to such ends to protect yourself.,but I've really gone through the mill with this particular company of late.The protection is always on their side.would be nice to make the playing field more level.now just need to find some cheap software or gadget

timmmers

The problem with recording calls for your own reference doesn't exist. Why should it when both of you hear the conversation anyway..and they are probably recording it as a matter of course?

It makes me smile when I see people say that the other party may object...what, when they just told you they would be doing the same? How can they?

The easy way to go is use Skype, get an app to record the calls and some cheaper calls additional to that.
Pamela is cheap (or free if you can manage with 15 minutes record) http://www.pamela.biz/en/
t

JonTa

Many thanks timmmers.I agree.I'm sure I'm the last person on the planet that doesn't understand skype I'm afraid.I'll look into it though:o

duggie1982

The reason behind the company and us recording calls as we dont have a system to securly hold or save the call. I work within a call centre and have been told not to continue the call if advised that its getting recorded. I give out certain information about me on these calls and dont wish anyone to record these details and not able to hold them securly or put them up on youtube etc.

Thats my side of the story

moonrakerz

duggie1982 wrote: »

The reason behind the company and us recording calls as we dont have a system to securly hold or save the call. I work within a call centre and have been told not to continue the call if advised that its getting recorded. I give out certain information about me on these calls and dont wish anyone to record these details and not able to hold them securly or put them up on youtube etc.

Thats my side of the story

I'm afraid your post just shows the utter contempt that most companies show to their customers.

If YOU record both of us _ why should I not to the same ?
If I am asked for my full name, DoB, place of birth, cat's name, password and grannies NI number, why cannot I record the fact that you might be called "duggie" !

Sheer total hypocrisy !

DVardysShadow

duggie1982 wrote: »

The reason behind the company and us recording calls as we dont have a system to securly hold or save the call. I work within a call centre and have been told not to continue the call if advised that its getting recorded. I give out certain information about me on these calls and dont wish anyone to record these details and not able to hold them securly or put them up on youtube etc.

Thats my side of the story

Please clarify duggie - does your company advise callers that they are being recorded?