When you attempt to reach customer service by calling the Mears Transportation phone number, you may not hear that all too common pre-recorded message we are so used to hearing: “This call may be recorded for quality control and/or training purposes.”

Consumer advocates suspect customer service representatives that answer the Mears Transportation phone number neglect to ask if it is okay to record the communication. This two-step process was meant to legally cover a business when they record in the state of California and other “two-party consent” states.

Two-party consent states in this context have nothing to do with politics, but rather a legal requirement that all participants involved in a phone call must give their permission prior to being recorded.

There are 11 other states in addition to California where this is the case: Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Would a Recorded Notice Make a Difference for the Mears Transportation Phone Number?

The answer is yes it would. The pre-recorded message we often hear is based upon a legal concept known as implied consent. If a person were to call the Mears Transportation phone number or any other customer service line and hear this message, they have been duly warned.

If they choose to remain on the line until a live customer service representative comes on the line, they have in effect given their permission to record. Many companies have their personnel follow-up with a live request for consent.

How is the State of California Different?

The State of California has a long history of efforts to protect its citizenry from the invasion of privacy in various forms. This has become more challenging with the evolution of technology, but the state government has maintained this high regard for the individual and belief in the inalienable right of each person to dignity and respect. In this spirit, the California Invasion of Privacy Law (CIPA) was written and is the basis of the state’s two-party consent status.

Other companies in addition to the Mears Transportation phone number that have caught the attention of individuals and been reported as problematic are:

• Dermalogica
• Swarovski
• Drs. Foster & Smith
• Mears Transportation Group
• Romano’s Macaroni Grill
• Southwest Rapid Rewards (800-445-5764 only)
• United Airlines Pet Safe (800-575-3335 only)
• Cannondale Bicycle Corporation
• Czech Airlines

In addition to calls going out to customer service lines, CIPA laws may also apply to inbound calls to California residents. Businesses calling into the state must ask permission prior to recording the communication.

Statutory damages for a violation on an outbound or inbound call can reach $5,000 per incident or three times the amount of damages suffered by the person involved. Companies that continue to disregard these guidelines may feel the collective financial burden very acutely in a class action.