February 18, 2026
Learn the exact consent and recording script professional researchers use at the start of customer interviews. This word-for-word guide covers legal compliance, participant comfort, and best practices for recording, transcription, and data handling—so you can start every interview with confidence and clarity.
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The first 60 seconds of a customer interview set the tone for everything that follows. Before you ask a single research question, you need to handle consent, recording permissions, and data usage in a way that is legally sound, professionally clear, and respectful of your participant's time.
Yet many researchers wing it. They mumble through permissions, forget to mention transcription, or assume a verbal "sure" is enough. That creates risk for your organization and discomfort for your respondent.
This guide provides the exact consent and recording script used by experienced researchers in product, marketing, and consulting. It is designed to be clear, compliant, and fast—so you can move confidently into the substance of your interview.
Consent is not just a legal formality. It is the foundation of ethical research practice.
According to the Market Research Society, informed consent requires that participants understand what they are agreeing to, including how their data will be used, who will have access, and how it will be stored. In regulated industries or when working with international respondents, consent requirements may be governed by frameworks like GDPR in Europe or CCPA in California.
But beyond compliance, a good consent script also:
Skipping or rushing this step signals carelessness. Taking 60 seconds to do it right signals competence.
Here is the script. Use it as written, or adapt it to fit your organization's legal requirements.
Before we get started, I need to cover a few quick housekeeping items.
First, I'd like to record this conversation so I can focus on our discussion instead of taking notes. The recording will be transcribed and used internally by our team to analyze feedback and improve our product [or messaging, or research]. It will not be shared publicly or used for marketing without your separate permission.
Is it okay with you if I record this call?
[Wait for explicit verbal yes.]
Thank you. I'm starting the recording now.
[Start recording.]
For the record, can you confirm that you consent to this interview being recorded and transcribed for internal research purposes?
[Wait for confirmation on the recording.]
Great. This conversation will take about [30/45/60] minutes. Everything you share will be kept confidential. We may use anonymized quotes in internal reports, but nothing will be attributed to you by name unless you give us explicit permission.
You're free to skip any question or stop the interview at any time. Do you have any questions before we begin?
[Pause briefly.]
Okay, let's get started.
Let's walk through why each part matters.
"Before we get started, I need to cover a few quick housekeeping items."
This signals that consent is standard practice, not an afterthought. It also frames the next 60 seconds as procedural, so participants do not feel ambushed.
"I'd like to record this conversation so I can focus on our discussion instead of taking notes."
This gives a reason that benefits the participant. It shows you care about the quality of the conversation, not just data collection.
"The recording will be transcribed and used internally by our team to analyze feedback and improve our product. It will not be shared publicly or used for marketing without your separate permission."
This is the core of informed consent. Participants need to know:
If you plan to use an AI transcription tool, some researchers add: "We use a third-party transcription service that is GDPR-compliant." This is especially important for European respondents or regulated industries.
"Is it okay with you if I record this call?"
Do not assume. Wait for a clear verbal "yes." If they hesitate, give them space to ask questions or decline.
"For the record, can you confirm that you consent to this interview being recorded and transcribed for internal research purposes?"
This creates a timestamped record of consent. If the recording is ever reviewed or audited, consent is documented.
"Everything you share will be kept confidential. We may use anonymized quotes in internal reports, but nothing will be attributed to you by name unless you give us explicit permission. You're free to skip any question or stop the interview at any time."
This language reassures participants that they have control. It also sets the norm that honesty is valued and safe.
"Do you have any questions before we begin?"
Most will say no, but offering the opportunity shows respect and gives cautious participants a chance to clarify.
It happens. When it does, respond calmly:
"No problem. I'll take notes instead. Everything else I mentioned still applies—your responses will be confidential and used only for internal research. Sound good?"
Then proceed with the interview. Taking detailed notes during the call is harder, but it is better than losing the interview entirely.
If you are interviewing participants in the EU or UK, you may need to provide additional information:
Some teams add: "Under GDPR, you have the right to request a copy of your data or ask us to delete it. If you'd like to do that, just email us at [contact]." This is rarely invoked, but stating it shows compliance.
If you work in healthcare, financial services, or other regulated sectors, consult your legal team. You may need:
If you are a consultant running interviews on behalf of a client, clarify who owns the data:
"This interview is being conducted by [Your Firm] on behalf of [Client]. The recording and transcript will be shared with [Client] and used for [specific project purpose]."
Transparency about the client relationship builds trust and avoids surprises.
Do not leave recordings in your personal Zoom cloud or on your desktop. Move them to a secure, access-controlled location like a password-protected shared drive or a research repository.
If you are using an AI transcription tool, upload the recording within 24 hours. If you are doing manual transcription, do it while the conversation is fresh.
At 28Experts, teams can opt for an AI report that synthesizes transcripts into charts, quotes, and summaries tied to repeat questions. This turns raw recordings into actionable insight in hours, not days.
Most organizations keep recordings for 6 to 12 months, then delete them. Transcripts may be kept longer if anonymized. Document your retention policy and follow it consistently.
Some tools auto-record. Make sure you control the start time, or explicitly say "I've started the recording" after getting verbal consent.
Do not say "pursuant to our data processing policies." Say "we'll use this internally and keep it confidential."
If you sound like you are reading fine print, participants tune out. Speak clearly and pause after asking for permission.
Some participants are comfortable with recording but uneasy about transcription, especially if AI is involved. Name it explicitly.
A strong consent process does more than cover legal bases. It improves the quality of your interviews.
When participants feel respected and informed, they are more candid. When they understand how their input will be used, they are more thoughtful. When they know they can skip questions or stop, they relax.
Research is built on trust. The consent script is where that trust begins.
The consent and recording script is not a barrier to good research. It is the foundation.
Use the word-for-word script provided in this guide, or adapt it to your legal and organizational requirements. Deliver it clearly, wait for explicit permission, and document consent on the recording.
Doing this well takes 60 seconds. Doing it poorly can cost you data, trust, or worse.
If you are running multiple interviews and want to move from raw recordings to insight faster, consider how you will synthesize what you learn. At 28Experts, teams can recruit interview respondents through their own LinkedIn networks and optionally receive AI-generated reports with charts, quotes, and summaries—so the work you do in the interview translates into clarity and action.
Start every interview with confidence. Use the script. Respect your participants. Build research that matters.
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