Legislators Shoot Down Collector Exemption for Single-Party Recordings

Nevada’s proposed bill, AB127, that would allow consumers to surreptitiously record calls from debt collectors, didn’t pass the most recent Assembly meeting.

According to the AP: “The Assembly refused to go along with Senate changes to AB127, aimed at stopping abusive phone tactics by collection agencies by letting consumers record phone conversations initiated by the agencies.”

The changes?  The Senate wanted language put into the bill that would require consumers to alert collection agencies that they are being recorded.  Which, of course, defeats the whole purpose of the original bill.

The changes are good news for collection agencies.  John Sande IV, a lobbyist for an association of Nevada debt collectors, pointed out that the industry is tightly regulated by federal law. If Nevada wants to change the law regarding recording phone conversations, it should regulate all conversations equally, he added.