How to record recovery agent calls and keep evidence

To keep evidence against recovery agents, save your own call recordings, screenshots with visible numbers and times, and a dated log, and do not edit the original files. This guide is for borrowers preparing a complaint to a lender, the RBI Ombudsman or the police. It covers what to save, how to store it, how it may be used, and how to record safely. How much weight a recording gets depends on the facts and the forum.

Is it legal to record recovery agent calls?

Recording a call you are part of, to protect yourself from threats or harassment, is widely used as evidence in complaints. Indian law has no single rule covering every recording, and whether a court accepts it depends on relevance, authenticity and how it was obtained. Do not record calls between other people, and ask for advice before making a recording public. Sharing one online could create problems of its own.

Lenders record too. RBI's Directions of 6 August 2026, effective 1 January 2027, require lenders to record recovery calls and take reasonable steps such as telling you the call is being recorded.

What to keep: an evidence checklist

How to record recovery agent calls safely

1. 1Check whether your phone has a built-in recorder, and how it works. Some phones announce that the call is being recorded.
2. 2If your phone cannot record, use speakerphone with another device, in a quiet room.
3. 3At the start, ask calmly: "Please tell me your name, your agency and the lender you are calling for."
4. 4Do not provoke the caller or put words in their mouth. Let them speak.
5. 5Keep your own side short: "Please send that in writing."
6. 6Afterwards, note the date, time and number in your log, with the file name.

How to store evidence so that it holds up

• Keep the original file on the original device, and do not trim, rename repeatedly or compress it.
• Make a backup copy on a pen drive or in private cloud storage.
• Do not delete chats. Export them and keep the phone or SIM if you can.
• Use one folder per lender, with files named by date.
• Keep a typed summary at the top: a timeline of what happened, with dates.

How your evidence is used

Section 63 deals with electronic records, and generally replaces the earlier Section 65B certificate. If your matter goes to court, get legal help with this certificate and keep the device safe.

What not to do

• Do not edit, clip or add captions to the original files.
• Do not secretly record conversations you are not part of.
• Do not post an agent's recording or face online. That could expose you to a counter-complaint.
• Do not threaten the agent with the recording. Use it in your complaint.

Conclusion: record recovery agent calls, and keep the originals

When you record recovery agent calls, keep the originals, back them up and maintain a dated log. That turns a stressful experience into a clear, complete complaint. If you are unsure what to use or where to file it, our legal experts can review your evidence and prepare the next step with you.