Of course, there are exceptions to the general rule. The most common one is consent. In personal injury trials, insurance company lawyers routinely use injured victims' recorded interviews against them. This is allowed because the insurance companies are always careful to obtain your verbal permission to tape a conversation. You should always call a lawyer before giving such permission.
Consent also applies to tape recordings made on home answering machines.
Several decisions in Pennsylvania have established that reasonable people understand that when they leave a message they are being recorded with their consent. Other exceptions include the routine recording of public utility service calls, police and emergency communications calls, and police officers acting pursuant to court ordered wire tap warrants. If you have any questions about the Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act or any other of your privacy rights, please feel free to send an e-mail to attorney Matt Cartwright.