UK callers can now record and store important phone calls automatically following the launch of EasyCallRecording.

The new service, a consumer spin-off from the business call recording service CallFusion, has been inspired by poor call centre service levels in the UK. The company says it will help persuade service providers to settle disputes or improve treatment at call centres.

“Businesses have been recording calls with their customers for years," said EasyCallRecording director, Ben Fry. “How often are we told ‘This call may be recorded’? Now we can say it back. It’s amazing the difference it makes to customer service levels and settling disputes. If UK call centres are going to improve, we need it to become the norm for customers to record important calls.”

Customers can sign up to a pay-as-you-go or subscription-based service. The pay-as-you-go service costs 10p per minute where users dial-up a special number and enter their destination number to record the conversation. The forthcoming subscription service will cost either £4.99 per month or £40 for the year. Customers will get a dedicated inbound number to record incoming calls and reduced outbound call costs.

According to EasyCallRecording one consumer received an apology and a 20 per cent refund on a PC after he emailed call recordings of his poor treatment by the PC maker’s customer support staff.

He said: “Within minutes of sending files of the recordings I received an email from the company's customer service manager. He was extremely apologetic, embarrassed and commended call recording as a 'prudent measure'."