Airbnb REQUIRES recording you call but if you want to record they REFUSE call

Called Airbnb today and they said they are REQUIRED to record me (wont talk to me without it) and will NOT allow me to record them (they will hang up if you try)? Totally unfair, just like their service, VRBO anyone?

68 points | by visualsuccess 1315 days ago

9 comments

  • elmerfud 1315 days ago
    IANAL while this does vary by jurisdiction, it's my understanding that even in two party states the consent is given to record the call and not consent as to which party is doing the recording. So if they ask and you agree, you can also record without telling them because consent has been granted.
    • SilasX 1315 days ago
      Nitpick: I think the reasoning -- in jurisdictions where this applies -- is that the presence of a third party listener removes the expectation of privacy (for both parties) and makes recording by either party legal, not that it counts as consent per se.
  • gsk22 1315 days ago
    Are you in a two-party consent state [0]? If not, you can legally record the conversation without informing them. I record all phone interactions with corporations by default.

    [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_call_recording_laws#...

    • zackees 1315 days ago
      If the corporation notifies you that you are being recorded, then that is also the consent you need to record them. Why do you need to give them notice? They already notified you.

      Where is it in law that stipulates that it matters who's doing the recording?

      • MichaelZuo 1315 days ago
        This is an interesting point, some jurisdictions may indeed only require the notification in an ambiguous way, so regardless of whether it’s 2 way recording or 1 way it may be covered.

        Though this raises the question of whether companies that don’t accept 2 way recording but mandate 1 way recordings to their advantage are companies you should do business with.

    • randomgoose 1315 days ago
      How do you record the calls automatically? Do you have some app or plugin to do this conveniently?
      • gsk22 1315 days ago
        I just use an Android call recording app. I enable it before I call customer support lines, and leave it off otherwise.
        • smnrchrds 1315 days ago
          Which app, and what Android version? Do you use a rooted device? The current Android version disabled access to call audio and broke all apps. Have they re-enabled them since?
          • pontifier 1314 days ago
            I'm having huge problems with this right now. I was using an automatic call recorder, but my phone camera broke, and my carrier was limiting features due to the age of the phone. I broke down and upgraded. Big mistake! Call recording was utterly broken and will not work on that phone. Bought a different phone the next day... also broken. Can't seem to root either one. I'm out about $400 on this whole ordeal, and still can't record my calls again. I'm about to send Google the bill for these phones and the 12+ hours of my time that's been wasted because apparently Google has made call recording impossible on android 9 and 10.
    • cpach 1315 days ago
      Do you have an Android phone? Call recording is one of the few features that I miss on iPhone.
      • smnrchrds 1315 days ago
        Newer Android versions have limited access to call audio similar to iPhone.
        • cpach 1314 days ago
          Oh. Does anyone know why they did this?
    • Spooky23 1313 days ago
      Make sure to ask the agent where they are sitting.
  • caseyscottmckay 1315 days ago
    Every time someone tells me they are recording my call for {quality, customer care, whatever} purposes, I tell them I'm also recording the call and pause to start recording the call. I get hung up on a lot.
    • Cerium 1315 days ago
      Often it is a robot that says that, do the robots hang up or do you wait for a human?
      • caseyscottmckay 1301 days ago
        No I let the robot says it's spiel, then, after the human connects, I inform the human I am also recording the call.
    • seattle_spring 1313 days ago
      What do you gain from doing this?
  • pxtail 1315 days ago
    No worries, in new versions of Android google already decided that call recording is not something that common folk is allowed to do.
  • empeyot 1315 days ago
    What follows works 99% of the times with airbnb:

    Customer service representative: "For training purposes this call is being recorded. Are you okay with it?"

    Airbnb member: "Well, you know if you feel comfortable that we record this call for quality purposes, I'm totally fine with it, no worries."

    CSR:"Haha, sure I am. I just have to ask, you know."

    AM: "Sure, me too, it's important to me that you're comfortable with it, too. So... here's the issue why I'm calling..."

    • EmilioMartinez 1314 days ago
      I always wondered, given how disingenuous they are by saying "training purposes", doesn't that weight in in any way during a legal process?

      You'd still have yourself to blame if you naively believe everyone, but is it legal to present evidence obtained in bad faith? Can you blatantly lie and say the recording is automatically deleted after a minute, and still present it in a court of law?

      • Spooky23 1313 days ago
        It’s not reasonable to list every possible use. Any call center routinely uses call data to train and evaluate agents.
    • dmarlow 1314 days ago
      Instead of saying "we record this call", why not just replace it with "this call is being recorded"?

      Seems that little bit more sneaky!

  • LexGray 1315 days ago
    When you say you want to record you are asking for a legal document. Wanting low wage ill trained employees who have difficulties communicating to say things in a way that passes muster for a legal department is expecting a lot of a phone call. I’d blame a litigious society for preventing your record keeping.
  • Witeshadow 1315 days ago
    One way to record calls is to setup a voip number that you can call and put them on three way conference. Voip.ms makes this easy, I've also done it with Twilio. I also live in a 1 party consent state.
    • jtsiskin 1314 days ago
      Could you not just flip on your devices screen recorder?
  • 02020202 1313 days ago
    i never talk when someone records me. there is never a positive outcome of such call. if they want some kind of proof, they can send me an email. when they record you you often agree to things you would normally not or changed your mind later on, since you have no time to think about it. they know what they are doing. so never, ever, be part of such calls. use email, think before replying and you're good.
  • mvidal01 1315 days ago
    How do they know if they are being recorded?
    • empeyot 1314 days ago
      They don't. But you'll have trouble to admit possession of a recorded call unless you're sure you legally obtained it. So unless you merely use it for your private training purposes its of limited value.
    • o-__-o 1314 days ago
      Welcome to my concern with current day zoom conferences. I act like I’m on CNBC every time I get on a zoom call