Suitable cassette recorders for PIP interview?

cashferret · 14 August 2019 at 9:26PM

I'm trying to help a friend source two cassette recorders for a PIP interview so that she can produce two recordings.

She thinks that an inbuilt microphone isn't likely to be good enough but I'm struggling to find anything online that has a microphone jack.

She doesn't have much money to spend.

Can anyone suggest a suitable make/model of recorder - either one with a good inbuilt microphone, or one with a microphone jack? Preferably cheap (she'll probably buy secondhand from Ebay)?

Many thanks!

Owain_Moneysaver · 14 August 2019 at 11:01PM

Almost any cassette recorder from the 1980s will have a microphone jack.

However, the PIP assessment will not permit recording unless this has been agreed in advance, and they might not accept two separate recorders. A police-interview-grade recorder produces two identical calibrated recordings simultaneously - the Neal dual-CD recorders used by DWP / ATOS cost about £1400 each.

poppy12345 · 14 August 2019 at 11:42PM

2 separate recorders will be fine and people use them all the time. Soemthing like this is suitable. https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5740413

cashferret · 15 August 2019 at 9:34AM

Thanks very much!

My friend has permission to record.

50Twuncle · 16 August 2019 at 2:36PM

Should you wish, you may use your own equipment to record the face-to-face consultation. This must be undertaken in line with the following DWP rules:

You need to notify us before your appointment that you will like to record your assessment by calling our Enquiry Centre on 0808 1788 114.
You will need to provide your own audio-recording equipment. Your recording equipment must be able to produce two identical copies of the recording at the end of the assessment, either on audio cassette or CD. Mobile phones and laptops are not suitable mediums for recording assessments.
You will need to give one copy of the recording to the assessor, at the end of the appointment.
You will need to sign an agreement that sets out what you are and are not allowed to do with the recording.
We will retain a copy of the recording for a maximum of 14 months, at which point it will be destroyed. We do not pass on the recordings to the DWP and they are not used in determining your entitlement or award.
Should you attempt to record the assessment without having contact us first and agreeing to the above guidelines, then your assessment is likely to be stopped and we may return your case to the DWP.

venison · 16 August 2019 at 4:59PM

It is now beyond time that they should record these assessments for everybody with DWP equipment and a copy provided to the claimant, it would be an instant solution to the number of "bad" assessments we read about, although I must say that mine was basically fair and representative.

50Twuncle · 20 August 2019 at 2:05PM

venison wrote: »

It is now beyond time that they should record these assessments for everybody with DWP equipment and a copy provided to the claimant, it would be an instant solution to the number of "bad" assessments we read about, although I must say that mine was basically fair and representative.

I agree - technology has made this a cheap and simple thing to do - what about video rather than audio ?
I was wondering whether, if someone surrupticiously recorded an assessment on their mobile phone and something "untoward ot worse" was said - just how this recording would be treated by a court ?

Suitable cassette recorders for PIP interview?

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Suitable cassette recorders for PIP interview?

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