What Rights Do the Parties of Recorded Conversations Have to the Recording?

[Arod]

What is the name of your state? Alabama
Thought this might be more appropriate in this forum

Here is my situation without going into details. I recently was in a one-on-one chat session with a customer service representative of a cable company. The rep logged off before I could request that the transcript be e-mailed to me. I got on with another rep and continued my service call and did request the transcript from this second session and was assured it would be sent. Then e-mailed the company for the first transcript.

Now the company is telling me that they do not send out the transcripts.

Do they have any legal obligation to provide them? Do I have any legal rights to them since I was party to the conversation?

From what I read in Title 18 Part 1 chp 119 and 121 of the US Code they are allowed to; but I can not find anything that says they have to, provide me the transcripts.

I know they have them since the second rep referenced the first sessions transcript (I believe incorrectly, but hey I do not have it so can not be certain).

Thanks
Arod

PS
No real legal case here just thought it was an interesting delema. And before any one says anything about recording it on my end, the applet they use deletes the conversation as the screen fills (which is locked into about 1/4 the total screen) , there is no logging capability and everything disappears when the rep signs off. I managed to copy and paste a bit of it. However it is incomplete; except that it is a complete mess.

 

[racer72]

Do they have any legal obligation to provide them? Do I have any legal rights to them since I was party to the conversation?

No and no. The only right you would have to the transcripts would be if they could be used as part of a lawsuit, private companies do not have to comply with the Freedom of Information Act.

 

[Arod]

Thanks Racer.

Now if I am correct they COULD send it to me (in fact I had to get on last night again and that rep did send the transcript), but not to let's say a third party company (law enforcment and gov. excluded of course.)

Doesn't seem neighborly.

Thanks for your help.

Now for discussions sake. (if any one is interested)

In my opinion I believe that a party that records any conversation (audio, video or cyberspace) should have to provide a copy to those involved in the conversation upon request. Also, I think it should be the requesting party's responsibility to provide the media and equipment to produce the copy (except for e-mail and such internet stuff since neither are required).

In my situation it would go a long way to get by the "I said, You said" stuff. Plus, currently I believe they made an agreement and are not holding up to it. And I think they know it but will not provide the transcript because that would be the proof I need. But this could all be a misunderstanding that could be cleared up if they just provided the log.

Any other views or opinions?

Arod