Recording Business Phone Calls

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Following a recent unfortunate tale about a fellow arb getting screwed over by a long standing / trusted client engaging his services to take down a neighbour’s tree on the understanding that the neighbour had agreed to pay, only to find that the neighbour won’t pay, it got me thinking.  (The circumstances are the circumstances – no need to comment on that – it was a long standing and trusted client!)

 

I know I "think" I'm quite a good judge of character and haven't been done over like this yet, and that probably 90%+ of tasks are after a written quote / acceptance, but there's always a first time and (along with some other unrelated circumstances which would benefit from a usable record) it got me to thinking about the usefulness of recording conversations / phone calls.  The “…whilst you’re here…” sort of additions for example.

 

I have been looking at kit that suits this purpose for a while and there is a vast range of quality / price point on the market.  I settled on the RecorderGear PR200 Bluetooth Cell Phone Call Recording Device because it has the function of a (reasonably) covert room voice recorder AND a phone call recorder and it was cheap enough not to matter if it was shite.

 

It arrived last week and I’ve had a good play with it – most satisfactory given the price point.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjpw-ll7Yy4

 

There are some legal considerations but nothing too challenging if you already have a grip on the GDPR regs.

 

https://www.businesssystemsuk.co.uk/is-call-recording-legal

 

Worth a thought, the potential inconvenience with this item is that you use it instead of the phone to make / receive the call.  Not too much of a drama though and I’m thinking, I can plan / schedule the calls I want to record to a time and place that is convenient.  Job done, no confusion over what was agreed.

 

Maybe a bit OTT just for general tree business use – any thoughts? 

[Mick Dempsey]

Without opening the links because I can’t be arsed, don’t you have to tell them you’re recording it?

[Christopher Schroeter]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appstar.callrecorder

I installed this recently after a pricing discrepancy. Regarding the legal side of things, I read into it and apparently as long as it's only for your personal use for a record of transactions etc then it's fine. This one records automatically and then gives you the choice of saving it with some written notes for future reference. You can also set it so it doesn't record calls to/from certain numbers. It will also be useful for recording customer details when taking a hands-free call when driving.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Customer reviews aren’t too hot for that app Christopher?

 

Mick, not withstanding it being Sunday an all, that’s lazy!!

 

You don’t have to tell ‘em if it just for personal record, you do if you intend to release to a 3rd party. 

 

On the basis that there’d be no point having the audio in the case of a dispute if you couldn’t release it to the Beak, I’m going with the tell ‘em approach. 

 

Privacy policy updated at website, acceptance of quote is acceptance of T&Cs so its as simple as that.

 

Hopefully never have to use it but it’s there in case. 

[jones]

16 minutes ago, kevinjohnsonmbe said:

On the basis that there’d be no point having the audio in the case of a dispute if you couldn’t release it to the Beak, I’m going with the tell ‘em approach. 

If the recording was summoned by the courts i'm not sure if GDPR would even apply in such case

[Stubby]

I want something to go tits up now so you can test it all out . Can't wait ! ?

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

45 minutes ago, Stubby said:

I want something to go tits up now so you can test it all out . Can't wait ! ?

Many thanks for your kind thoughts Mr S!!  ?

 

I've already tested it and I'm happy with the functionality (but I'm not entirely sure that's what you were hoping for ?)

[Inoff the Red]

Recording phone calls gives you a record of what was agreed between the parties but I am not sure how effective it would be if it ever came to a court case.

 

It is always safer to get something in writing to/from the person that is going to pay the bill.

[Mark Bolam]

Definitely not for me.

There's no way I want a record of all the lies and bullshit I tell my customers.

[Gary Prentice]

10 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

Definitely not for me.

There's no way I want a record of all the lies and bullshit I tell my customers.

I'd be more concerned that they were recording you!