RecordMyCalls.com makes call-recording easy but pricey

— -- This call may be monitored for quality assurance.

It has a familiar ring. But given the exasperating encounters many of us have after hearing those words, you may wish you were the one monitoring the exchange.

RecordMyCalls.com permits you to do just that, without installing software or requiring you to get one of those cheap suction-cup microphones, much less more-elaborate telephone recording equipment.

The aptly named Web service is aimed at any consumer or business person who has ever felt compelled to record conversations, if only to save voice mails for posterity, or avoid disputes with insurance companies, airline agents, contractors, brokers, even former spouses. Potential customers include attorneys, day traders and journalists.

You play back recorded calls on your PC or Mac. And your recordings are logged and stored online. (Recorded files are encrypted.)

The playback quality on interviews I recorded was generally very good, even when the connection was fair. I recorded calls that originated on my land-line home phone, office phone, cellphone and computer (through Skype).

But the service is pricey, especially if you expect to record a lot of calls. Under a monthly $4.95 "economy" plan, calls are 20 cents a minute, and you get 500 megabytes of online storage (about 10 to 12 hours of calls). That means recording a single half-hour call will set you back six bucks on top of the monthly charges. Calls with customer service agents can go a lot longer than that, especially if you're languishing on hold.

The "deluxe" $9.95 plan, targeted at more-frequent users, lowers the rate to 15 cents a minute and ups storage to 1 gigabyte. The New York-based start-up expects to bring out a yet-to-be-priced unlimited calling plan. How it all works:

•Recording calls. Upon signing up, you are issued a five-digit account number. To record a call, you dial a toll-free 800 number from any phone. You'll be prompted for your account number, followed by a personal identification number, or PIN. You then dial the number you want recorded.