Illegal California Phone Recording Lawsuits
Last Updated on February 8, 2018
Investigation Complete
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org have finished their investigation into this matter.
Check back for any potential updates. The information on this page is for reference only.
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At A Glance
- This Alert Affects:
- Anyone in California who had a cellular phone call recorded without their consent.
- What's Going On?
- Attorneys are investigating whether class action lawsuits can be filed on behalf of people who had their cell phone calls recorded illegally.
- Have Any Lawsuits Been Filed Yet?
- Yes. A number of hotels, banks and debt collectors have been sued after they allegedly taped cell phone calls without customers' permission. Some of these cases have settled for millions of dollars.
- Who's Been Sued?
- Citibank, Wyndham Hotels, Pioneer Credit Recovery and Navient, Inc., among others.
- What Could I Get from a Class Action?
- Under California law, you may be able to collect up to $5000 per phone call.
What’s Going On?
Attorneys are investigating whether certain business are breaking state law by illegally recording conversations with their customers.
To help with their investigation, they’re asking that anyone who had a cell phone call recorded without their consent fill out the form on this page. The more people we can connect the attorneys with, the better chance they have at filing lawsuits.
After you get in touch with us, one of the attorneys may reach out to you directly to ask you a few questions and to explain why you may be owed money. It doesn’t cost anything to talk to the attorneys we work with and you’re never obligated to take legal action.
Can a Company Record a Phone Call Without My Knowledge?
Under California law, it is illegal for a company to record cellular phone calls without first getting the caller’s permission to record the conversation. The law protecting California residents from illegally recorded phone calls is known as the Invasion of Privacy Act.
How Could a Lawsuit Help Me?
Under California law, anyone who had their phone call illegally recorded could be owed up to $5000 per violation. A lawsuit could also help ensure these companies, in the future, warn their customers that they’re recording their phone calls.
Have These Cases Been Successful?
Yes. Here are some recent settlements.
In 2016, Citibank agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit that claimed the company listened in on phone calls made to its toll-free number without first informing the callers.
Wyndham Hotel and Resorts paid out more than $7 million to settle claims that its call center didn’t tell consumers that they were being recorded.
In 2016, Wells Fargo settled allegations lodged by California’s Attorney General for $8.5 million. The Attorney General claimed the bank violated state law by recording calls with California residents.
How Can I Tell If a Phone Call Is Being Recorded?
Unfortunately, there’s no way around the fact that it’s very difficult to detect if your phone call is being recorded. Still, there are certain things consumers can watch out for.
A few things to keep in mind if you find yourself on the phone with a company:
If you’re unsure whether your conversation is being recorded, always ask the employee on the other end.
Pay close attention to any recorded messages that play BEFORE your phone call. This is when many companies disclose that the call may be getting recorded or monitored.
Listen for any unusual sounds during your phone call, such as clicking or crackling noises, static, or distant voices present in the conversation. These can be indicators that your call is being recorded.
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