Legal experts are investigating claims that Fisher & Paykel customer service calls may have been recorded without consumer consent, an action which may entitle consumers to compensation under California call recording laws.

Privacy is considered an inalienable right under the California constitution and is fiercely protected by numerous laws in the state. The most powerful of these laws is the California Invasion of Privacy Act, passed in 1967 to protect consumers from the then growing threat of privacy breaches via technological means.

The California Invasion of Privacy Act prohibits “maliciously and without the consent of all parties to the communication, [intercepting], [receiving], or [assisting] in intercepting or receiving a communication transmitted between cellular radio telephones or between any cellular radio telephone and a landline telephone.”  The law also contains similar statutes for calls between other devices, not only landlines.

If consumers participated in a recorded call with a Fisher & Paykel customer service phone number and were not warned that their call was recorded, the company may be required to pay damages for violatiing California call recording laws.

To avoid potential legal breaches, many companies include a forewarning at the beginning of the call, informing consumers that their call may be recorded for a variety of purposes. It is generally considered consenting to the call recording by staying on the line after hearing a warning. However, if no warning was heard, no consent could be given and companies may be in violation of California call recording laws.

Consumers who suspect that their call with a Fisher & Paykel customer service number may have been recorded could potentially recover compensation. Lawsuits filed under the California Invasion of Privacy Act may require the offending companies to pay up to $5,000 per violation. Some businesses may attempt to fight these claims by claiming that their call recording was for customer service or training purposes rather than nefarious purposes. However, the intent behind call recording does not matter to the law, and companies are required to face the allegations brought against them.

Instead of risking the costs of legal processes and huge trial verdicts, companies may choose to settle a California call recording lawsuit out of court. This outcome can be beneficial for both parties, as the wronged consumer will still recover compensation, the offending company does not have to admit any wrongdoing, and both parties avoid the risks of trial.

Although no specific allegations have been made, attorneys are investigating numerous companies. In addition to Fisher & Paykel, the list includes American Airlines, British Airways, Cannondale Bicycle Corporation, Czech Airlines, Dermalogica, Harman Audio, Hunter Boots, JBL Audio, Malaysia Airlines, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, and Tupperware, that may have recorded phone calls with customers without consent.

If you are a California resident received a call from a Fisher & Paykel customer service phone number and were not warned that your call may be recorded, you may be eligible to recover compensation. A California call recording lawsuit may help you recover compensation for any potential breaches of privacy.