How do you record a telephone conversation?

Question

I know that there are legalities involved, but how do you record a conversation over the phone? A friend is going to have a conversation with someone in the U.K. - he's the head of HR of a particular company - and she was wondering how that could be done. Also, how do you approach it from a legal standpoint?

Answer 1

Fred is correct – Radio Shack sells tape recorders for recording phone calls. A link is provided below to a Microcassette Phone Recorder.

The obvious legal approach is to announce at the very beginning of the conversation “I’m recording this call” – making sure the announcement is recorded.

Laws vary by state on the legality of phone recordings. For example – secretly recording phone conversations in California is illegal under any circumstance. I’m aware of one state that allows recording telephone conversations if two parties to the call are aware of the recording. If a friend secretly listens on a phone extension while you record the conversation with the unsuspecting party – you’re legal. A technicality the lawmakers probably didn’t contemplate.

Strongly recommend your friend consult an attorney prior to surreptitiously recording a telephone call. If the recording is illegal – not only is the recording inadmissible in court - but your friend could be sued. A lawyer may provide a technicality or loophole for your state.

Be careful.

Answer 2

Go to Radio Shack and buy a device that plugs in the phone and any recorder with a remote access. It will start to record when the phone is picked up. You can record your own phone calls, It's illegal in the U.S.

Answer 3

I believe Linda Tripp used a regular tape recorder. ((SMILE)) But I'm not 100% sure of that.

Answer 4

press record