What’s the difference between monitoring and recording on insurance calls?
Personal Injury - December 22, 2022
You’ve heard the phrase on utility phone lines and customer service numbers – “This call may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance and training purposes.” But did you know insurance does the same thing?
In Illinois, insurance companies are legally required to obtain your consent before monitoring or recording your conversation. That means it’s against the law to monitor or record you without your explicit knowledge and agreement.
But what’s the difference between monitoring and recording, and why should you be wary of both? Keep reading to learn more.
Monitoring vs. recording
| Monitoring | Recording |
| Manager can eavesdrop on the adjuster’s conversation | Doesn’t require a manager to be present |
| Manager is able to provide verbal feedback and direction to the adjuster without the caller hearing | Manager can provide feedback after the call has ended |
| There is no digital record of the conversation | Insurance can hold on to recordings up to 3 years from the date of the claim |
Those are the main differences in monitoring and recording, but what about similarities? The greatest likeness is that in both scenarios, you absolutely don’t want to give any information away that could potentially have a negative impact on your claim.
While insurance adjusters may seem to be on your side, they do not work for you. The adjuster’s job is to save the insurance company money by minimizing the amount paid out in claims.
In many cases, insurance adjusters will try to get you to admit fault for the car accident.
By admitting fault, you could be setting yourself up for a larger financial loss. The insurance company could use your statement against you to deny or minimize your claim.
If you’re injured in a car accident, it’s always best to consult with an experienced Chicago car accident lawyer before giving a recorded statement to anyone. An experienced attorney can evaluate your case and help you protect your rights.
Contact an attorney at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates for a free consultation. Call (800) 985-1819 now.
Other tactics insurance companies use to undermine your claim
There are many common tricks that insurance companies use to try to undermine your claim. With monitoring and recording on most insurance calls, it’s too easy for them to devalue or outright deny your claim. Become familiar with the following tactics so you can protect your rights and your claim.
Probing for inconsistencies
One of the most common tricks that insurance companies use is demanding a story from you in an effort to find inconsistencies or contradictions in what you say.
This could be something as small as a time difference of when the accident occurred. The adjuster may repeat their questions multiple times, trying to catch you in a lie.
Fast money offer
The insurance company may also try to get you to sign away your rights by offering a quick settlement. Sometimes, this works on injury victims who have a lot of medical bills and lost wages.
Remember, these are all tricks that the insurance company uses in an attempt to undermine your claim and save themselves money. If you stick it out, an attorney can obtain what you’re really owed.
Downplaying injuries
Insurance companies often try to get you to downplay the severity of your injuries.
They’ll use seemingly innocent comments, something as small as you saying “I’m good” to make it seem as if your injuries aren’t actually that bad.
They may try to say that since you were able to walk and talk after the accident, your injuries couldn’t have been that severe.
It’s important to know that your adrenaline is high after an accident, and you may not feel the full extent of your injuries until days or weeks later.
This is why it’s vital that you seek medical attention to verify your injuries, and why you should avoid saying things like “It’s really not that bad.”
Sensitive information
We’ve seen insurance companies try to force individuals to reveal sensitive information that they do not legally need to divulge.
This includes, but is not limited to, your social security number, bank statements, and wage information.
You should never give the insurance company this information without speaking to your lawyer first.
Protecting your best interests against predatory insurance practices
If you were in an accident, it’s important to speak to an experienced car accident lawyer. Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates has over 100 years of combined legal experience.
We know the tricks that the insurance companies use and we will work tirelessly to protect your best interests. Call us today at (800) 985-1819 for a free consultation.
