Contractor rep recording conversations in the home - AITA?

[Anonymous]

Sorry for the cross-post in Off-Topic. I should have posted this here and I'll ask Jeff to delete the other one.

I had a rep from a well known, heavily advertised home repair company come buy to give a free inspection estimate. He took about an hour to do his full inspection including a drawing with detailed measurements and readings. Then we sat down to discuss the findings and draw up a proposal along with the usual sales pitch. All good up to that point.

Before he started, he asked if I minded that he record our conversation on his cell phone. He said the company required him to do so. I told him I didn't think that was a good practice for them and he actually agreed with me. He said they have threatened to fire reps who didn't comply and they track who is recording and who doesn't. He also said they insist on them recording even if they don't ask permission, and a lot of his colleagues don't bother asking. He clearly wasn't happy with the requirement and also revealed, if the customer didn't grant permission, they were instructed to record anyway without them knowing. They are even required to start the recording before asking permission, if they even ask.

Question for contractors: are any of you familiar with this practice or do you require this of your sales force who sees customers in their homes? I've had many contractors out to the house over the years and this is the first I've heard of this. If I've been recorded in the past without my knowledge, I'm not OK with that. For homeowners: are you OK with being recorded in your house by someone trying to sell you repair services? Keep in mind, this is not a phone conversation between two people, but a cell phone recording anyone within earshot (phoneshot?) who may be speaking including people in the background who aren't a part of the conversation regarding the home repair. Do I need to ask all contractors about their recording policy in the future so I can opt out of it?

Am I being too sensitive about this, or am I right that this seems really invasive and does not respect my privacy? Would you do business with a company like this? I feel like contacting his boss but I don't want to get him in trouble. The guy was excellent other than that but I doubt I'd want to do business with the company he represents now that I know this.

[Anonymous]

You’re not being too sensitive and it is very invasive. If they would ask their employees to secretly record you, what else are they asking them to do? I think I would have asked him to leave on the spot.

I won’t be first to say this but the big companies whose ads are everywhere aren’t the ones you want doing your work. They tend to overcharge to make up for all that advertising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re not being too sensitive and it is very invasive. If they would ask their employees to secretly record you, what else are they asking them to do? I think I would have asked him to leave on the spot.

I won’t be first to say this but the big companies whose ads are everywhere aren’t the ones you want doing your work. They tend to overcharge to make up for all that advertising.

The guy was great otherwise. Not at all pushy or demanding to speak to the "man of the house." He was clearly uncomfortable with what he was instructed to do. Since he confided in me like that, I don't want to get him in trouble, but I sure don't want to do business with a company like that. Why do they even need to record those conversations?

[Anonymous]

I would not do business with that company. Tell them why you are going withsomeone else.
Get other estimates.

[Anonymous]

Wow that’s terrible. Why are you protecting the company? Name the company. I would definitely look elsewhere and I wouldn’t hold back letting everyone know why. Someone who is gonna do shady (illegal???) stuff like that is not going to be someone I’d ever enter into a contract with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not do business with that company. Tell them why you are going withsomeone else.
Get other estimates.

I had already set appointments with two other companies. He was the first. The other two are coming out the end of the week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow that’s terrible. Why are you protecting the company? Name the company. I would definitely look elsewhere and I wouldn’t hold back letting everyone know why. Someone who is gonna do shady (illegal???) stuff like that is not going to be someone I’d ever enter into a contract with.

It's a well known foundation repair company.

[Anonymous]

In the state I live in (CA), it is illegal to record audio w/out permission.

Even if it were legal however -
I would have an issue w/it…..most especially if I was being recorded w/out being told ahead of time. 😠

[Anonymous]

These are the states that require two-party consent. If the company you are not naming operates in any of these states, they may have a legal problem.

California
Delaware
Florida
Illinois
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Montana (requires notification only)
New Hampshire
Oregon (One party consent for electronic conversations; two-party consent for in-person conversations)
Pennsylvania
Washington
Connecticut (Two party consent for electronic conversations; one-party consent for in-person conversations)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow that’s terrible. Why are you protecting the company? Name the company. I would definitely look elsewhere and I wouldn’t hold back letting everyone know why. Someone who is gonna do shady (illegal???) stuff like that is not going to be someone I’d ever enter into a contract with.

It's a well known foundation repair company.

JES?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow that’s terrible. Why are you protecting the company? Name the company. I would definitely look elsewhere and I wouldn’t hold back letting everyone know why. Someone who is gonna do shady (illegal???) stuff like that is not going to be someone I’d ever enter into a contract with.

It's a well known foundation repair company.

It makes no sense that you’re being so vague about this. Just name the company so we all know to avoid them.

[Anonymous]

You don't want to be doing business with "a well known, heavily advertised home repair company."

In construction or home repair, any advertising beyond a minimal web presence and a sign on the side of the truck is an indication to stay away.

[Anonymous]

It’s not ok and it’s very strange. I’d run

[Anonymous]

Run, but I would have said ok as long as I can record you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow that’s terrible. Why are you protecting the company? Name the company. I would definitely look elsewhere and I wouldn’t hold back letting everyone know why. Someone who is gonna do shady (illegal???) stuff like that is not going to be someone I’d ever enter into a contract with.

It's a well known foundation repair company.

JES?

Yes, that's the company