Recording PIP telephone assessment ATOS

I had a telephone assessment booked for this Thursday. I was only given notice of this today via text message.
I have read on various sites it’s now possible to have your assessment recorded by atos.
I called to let them know 1) appt time was unsuitable and I haven’t been given enough notice and 2) I’d like to have the assessment recorded.

The call handler explained they record it, send you a copy on cd and keep a copy for themselves. But seemed to be keen on putting me off from requesting it.
He then said my appointment was cancelled. He couldn’t rebook as the assessor doesn’t want his assessments recorded. So he said “as you want to prolong this for yourself maybe you will just have to wait until you can have a face to face”

My award is going to run out in January and tbh I’m now kicking myself. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked for it to be recorded. But last assessment the lies were unbelievable.
Should I just ask them to give me the next appt. not recorded?

We hit this three years ago on the face to face. Drove 20 miles to the centre all in good time, all keyed up like anyone, complete with holdall of tape recorders and cassettes having given the due notice of intent to record PIP assessment. Booked in, receptionist asked to see equipment, took a cursory glance in bag, 'please sit down we will call you'.
Waited, saw others called in, appointment time passed, saw manageress scurrying round office looking stressed. Called us back to desk "None of my assessors are willing to be recorded so you can have your assessment without recording or not have it here" " Thank you, we want a recording" Much phoning in the office, an appt three weeks later at a different centre which we did record.
So my personal take is, try phoning again, stick out for your legal entitlement, if you don't strike luckier with the next call handler ask to speak to a manager. Likely you will not just get transferred on the spot but called back in the next 2 working days, so keep paperwork by the phone/with you if using a mobile. Try to stay calm and just do being polite but very firm.
Keep your motivation in mind-this is important for you just like us, because of the pack of lies you got last time. I did resort to laboriously typing out a transcript of the recording and used this to win Higher rate x2 at appeal. In short, don't take their bs.
Best wishes, Denby

...which we quite accept, it was just annoying that despite acknowledging the notice of intent to record, the centre did not bother to check with their staff before we had travelled all the way there, and then seemed to think it was Ok to try and just brush it aside. I had been to the same centre a few months earlier supporting a neighbour and recorded with no hitches at all and successful result, but that nice lady must have left.
As I understood in the days of face to face it was the claimant's right to record, with a willing assessor; the Covid regs have reduced claimants' rights in a very significant way on this.
I have always felt that it should be a condition of employment as an assessor that one is willing to be audio recorded. I ask myself, if not, why not? Too political perhaps.
Denby