Minister Jo Swinson said the recordings would provide evidence under new Consumer Rights Bill . People should make smartphone recordings of dealings with tradesmen , builders , decorators and even hairdressers to ensure they stick to their word , a minister said yesterday . Jo Swinson said the recordings would provide evidence under a new Consumer Rights Bill that will ensure verbal agreements are enforceable . The Bill will go through its final stages in the Commons on Monday and come into force in October , giving the public stronger powers to challenge firms that treat them badly . The Consumer Affairs Minister said the system will make the rules on complaints and refunds much clearer for the public and businesses . The Bill also includes new rights for people who buy and download content from the web , whether it is a Hollywood film , a computer game or a song . The minister said the recordings of conversations with traders should be made openly and would form part of any legally-binding agreement , along with documents , emails and text messages . She said they could be used in many circumstances , including a hairdresser promising to cut hair in a particular style . Her comments follow the controversy triggered by Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls , who suggested families should demand receipts from small traders to help ensure tax is paid . Miss Swinson , a Liberal Democrat , stressed that verbal agreements will have the force of a written contract from the autumn , particularly if they are backed up with a recording . ‘ If you make a verbal agreement with a trader , then that forms part of the contract , ’ she said . ‘ If you say I want you to paint my bathroom a particular shade of mint green , but they then use a different one , then they have not delivered what was agreed . ‘ It is important for people to have agreements and to have a note of those . Email will be one way that a lot of people do that , sometimes it might be a text message . People could also use their phone to record the conversation , if both parties found that was an easier way of doing it. ’ The minister stressed she was not suggesting any kind of secret recording . When asked if they could include consultations with hairdressers , the minister said : ‘ Absolutely , yes. ’ The Minister said people should use their smartphones to record dealings with tradesmen , builders , decorators and hairdressers . Miss Swinson said the recordings with traders should be made openly . Miss Swinson said in some circumstances customers would use the recordings to encourage the trader to put a job right , in others they would support a demand for a refund . She gave the example of a children ’ s balloon entertainer who missed a birthday party by turning up two hours later than agreed as someone who would be expected to give the customer their money back . The minister said the best option is to get a written contract , but she said traders should understand that verbal agreements are also legally binding . However , Hilary Hall , chief executive of the National Hairdressers ’ Federation , said her members might find the idea of being recorded ‘ unnerving ’ . ‘ I can see why consumers might want to do it , but I imagine anyone would feel uneasy about being recorded on a smartphone , ’ she said . ‘ It can be hard for someone to describe what they want , and very hard for a hairdresser to exactly describe what they are going to do . Even a recording won ’ t resolve this , because two people can come away from the conversation with different ideas. ’ The Sales of Goods Act already gives shoppers some rights to repairs and refunds . The Government says the new regime simplifies existing laws .
pat Jo Swinson says people should record dealings with tradesmen . artists , decorators and even hairdressers should also be taped . Said recordings would provide evidence under new workplace Rights Bill . Bill will give people stronger powers to prevent bad treatment by firms . agreements should be signed openly and form legally binding agreements .