Recording a Phone Call

[TomCov]

Hi,
I would like to record a phone call via my VM landline. Any ideas how to go about it?

Thank you

[Angua]

If you have an answer-phone this should be possible. You should check the manual.

[Ken W]

Originally Posted by TomCov

Hi,
I would like to record a phone call via my VM landline. Any ideas how to go about it?

Thank you

I think you must advise the other party that you will be recording the call.

[Theodoric]

Originally Posted by Ken W

I think you must advise the other party that you will be recording the call.

Yes, there's a useful summary of the law here.

I'm always suspicious of the reason given by help lines: "Your call may be recorded and used for training purposes." Not a hint that it might be used as evidence when you are taken to court for becoming over-emotional in your complaint.

[Matth]

The good old way was with a telephone recording coil, on old phones, there were places on the phone body that it would pick up from, but for moree modern phones, it would only work in front of the earpiece.

A computer voice modem (remember them?) might also enable recording to the PC.

[savvychels]

If you don't have an answering machine that will do it put your phone on speaker and just use some kind of tape or digital recorder

[XxAmazingStarxX]

Don't, I think it's against the law...

[Lord Nikon]

Actually there's nothing saying you can't record a phone call, you only have to notify the other party if you intend to use it for anything other than personal reference. If you were to try to use it's content in court or for other people to hear then yes, you have to tell them, but if you only intend to use it for the purpose of reviewing it later to remind yourself what was said then there's no legal limitation.

From Ofcom

Can I record telephone conversations on my home phone?

Yes. The relevant law, RIPA, does not prohibit individuals from recording their own communications provided that the recording is for their own use. Recording or monitoring are only prohibited where some of the contents of the communication - which can be a phone conversation or an e-mail - are made available to a third party, ie someone who was neither the caller or sender nor the intended recipient of the original communication. For further information see the Home Office website where RIPA is posted.

Do I have to let people know that I intend to record their telephone conversations with me?

No, provided you are not intending to make the contents of the communication available to a third party. If you are you will need the consent of the person you are recording.

They also provide a link to the home office site regarding RIPA.

As to how to go about it - digital recorder or some other recorder hooked up to the phone via something like
http://www.maplin.co.uk/2-way-teleph...recorder-24724
or
http://www.maplin.co.uk/play-and-rec...-adaptor-30352

[Russ]

It never fails to amaze me in threads like this where people spend more time discussing the law than helping to answer the question.

If recording a call was potentially as serious as murder etc then yes I'd understand people stumbling over themselves to point out the law - but it isn't. When was the last time you heard of anyone being prosecuted for recording a call without informing the other party?

People need to put this in to perspective, seriously. Not saying people should break the law but there's enough advice online for the OP to already know the law.

OP: have a look at http://www.maplin.co.uk/cables/telep...ording-devices

[Lord Nikon]

Since the 4 posts prior to mine were discussing the law I thought I would provide the relevant link, I also provided suggestions of recording equipment.