ChatterBank1 min ago
Telephone recording
Answers
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Tape recording phone conversations where you want a record of what was said is not illegal, but as Andy says, would be open to challenge by the other side in a court case unless the other person were aware of the recording.
However, if this is your intention then the following might be of help. Do as suggested and set up the recorder and record the conversation, but allow someone else to monitor the conversation through headphones from the tape machine. They are then a witness to the conversation. Afterwards you can prepare a transcript of EXACTLY and everything that was said (the other side might be doing the same thing, remember) and if needed in court you can enter extracts of this transcript that was prepared shortly after the time of the conversation as evidence and have your witness to attest to what was said.
The important thing here is that you are not using the recording as evidence, but as an aid to your and your witness's short term memory. It is not the recording that forms the evidence but the conversation and your recollection of it supported by your witness, just like any other conversation.
I had assumed that making a recording of a phone call was illegal unless you had the permission of the other party but that's contradicted by Hippy. On the web I've found that, "under RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000) it is a tort to record or monitor communication unlawfully which could give rise to damages claims"