# People who call without stating their name first **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 2, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194 "2014-07-02T14:50:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/21 "2014-07-03T13:49:08Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > If I’'m Mark, and I have to wait for you go get out the file, I don’t really care if it is you or the operator who has put me on hold. In fact, I’d prefer to do business with someone who said “Let me get our your file to make sure I have all the details in front of me”, than to have to run through a gamut of time-consuming explanations before I even find out whether you are in the office or not. Your name and company as part of your opening sentence is a gamut of time consuming explanations? ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/22 "2014-07-03T13:51:07Z")
I have one that thinks he’s so funny. I say “May I ask who’s calling?” and his response is always “yes.” That’s it. You know. I wish my boss didn’t want me to screen his calls, but he does, so must you bust my balls about it? ugh, not funny the first time and not funny the 100th time. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/23 "2014-07-03T13:54:21Z")
One I find much annoying is people who call YOU and then want to put YOU on hold. If you want to talk to someone else don’t call ME. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/24 "2014-07-03T14:08:08Z")
‘This is Donny and June, we’re leaving on the flight tomorrow, just wanted to confirm’ :smack: I deal with people who are on holiday - by the end of their stay they think they’re on first name terms with everyone on the island. I always feel a twinge of sadness when I have to ask for their last name and the date and day of their flight. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/25 "2014-07-03T14:10:57Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > One I find much annoying is people who call YOU and then want to put YOU on hold. If you want to talk to someone else don’t call ME. Drives me up the fucking wall. I just hang up. I have too much to do to waste my time waiting for you to finish chatting with Brenda about her weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/26 "2014-07-03T14:13:16Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I have one that thinks he’s so funny. I say “May I ask who’s calling?” and his response is always “yes.” That’s it. > > You know. I wish my boss didn’t want me to screen his calls, but he does, so must you bust my balls about it? > > ugh, not funny the first time and not funny the 100th time. Also ran: ‘Don’t you recognise my voice?’ ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/27 "2014-07-03T14:20:15Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > ‘This is Donny and June, we’re leaving on the flight tomorrow, just wanted to confirm’ :smack: > > I deal with people who are on holiday - by the end of their stay they think they’re on first name terms with everyone on the island. I always feel a twinge of sadness when I have to ask for their last name and the date and day of their flight. Have you had anyone claim that you’ve ruined their holiday by breaking the illusion of everyone on an island existing to cater to them and them only? 😛 I kid, I kid. They sound more polite than most people, so at least they’re trying. On an unrelated note to that, before caller ID I would have friends or family call me and play the “Guess who?!” game. Telling voices on the phone apart is very difficult for me, so inevitably I would get it wrong and somebody would get miffed. Well, sorrrrryyy, maybe if you just stated your name like a normal person this wouldn’t have happened! ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/28 "2014-07-03T17:55:28Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > Last year I started leaving my name and number directly at the beginning of a voicemail (as well as the end) so that people without a system to scroll through the message don’t have to listen to my whole message again if they didn’t hear the numbers the first time. They can just keep repeating the beginning part. Can’t believe I didn’t know that one earlier. After nearly 7 years working a phone-based job, I believe I have perfected the art of leaving a message. It goes like this (items in \ indicate where I say the relevant specifics, items in [these brackets] indicate where I am explaining why I do a particular thing): “Hello, this is a message for \ [verifies that I have called the correct number, also important in the case of more than one person having access to the message], my name is \ calling from \ [important to establish this is not a cold call and what the recipient is to expect] on \ [giving this early in case they need to come back to it] at \ on \ [not all voicemail facilities make it easy to see the date and time the message was left]. I am just calling regarding \. If you are able to give me a call back, the number again is \ [repeating number in case they have been searching for a pen and don’t want to listen to the message again], that line is open \, if I am not available when you call one of my colleagues should be able to help or they can arrange for me to call you back. However, if it’s not convenient for you to call, don’t worry as I can send you an e-mail [this last part is optional but usually relevant].” That’s a bit hard to read so let me give a fictitious example without all the parentheses: “Hello, this is a message for Mr Barack Obama, my name is Dead Cat calling from the Straight Dope Message Board on 01234 567 890 on Thursday 3rd July at 6.45pm. I am just calling regarding the message you sent to us earlier on today in relation to your recent application. If you are able to give me a call back, the number again is 01234 567 890, that line is open until 8pm today or from 9am tomorrow, if I am not available when you call one of my colleagues should be able to help or they can arrange for me to call you back. However, if it’s not convenient for you to call, don’t worry as I can send you an e-mail.” OK, it’s a bit long, but it covers all the important details in the correct order, in my view, and is still well under a minute. > [@Macca26](#): > > Telling voices on the phone apart is very difficult for me, so inevitably I would get it wrong and somebody would get miffed. Well, sorrrrryyy, maybe if you just stated your name like a normal person this wouldn’t have happened! Yeah, at work I always answer internal calls that have been made to a group number (rather than to me personally) with “Hi, it’s \.” But many people don’t - why not? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/29 "2014-07-03T18:24:40Z")
I make a point of giving my name and number in the first sentence, and then repeating the number again at the end (and of course enunciating the phone number carefully). I’ve gotten voicemail messages in which the caller drones on for several minutes and then at the end says their phone number very quickly and just once. So I have to listen to the whole damned thing _again_ just to get the phone number. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/30 "2014-07-04T00:20:46Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > Your name and company as part of your opening sentence is a gamut of time consuming explanations? Having to ask me is a burden on the receptionist? ---
**Author:** ![Marlonius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Marlonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlonius)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/31 "2014-07-04T00:40:10Z")
> [@AppallingGael](#): > > Worse is when they ask who I am before identifying themselves. Very rude, yes, and I don’t think forgetfulness is the explanation. Yeah, “what’s up with that?” I had a guy call me once and he asked me who it was. I told him that I wasn’t sure he understood how a phonecall was supposed to work. Then he got uppity and I hung up on him. His parents really failed him. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/32 "2014-07-04T04:27:37Z")
As an officerat I would answer my phone, “Mr. Dub”, and I’d get people who’d ask “Is this Mr. Dub?”. You have no idea how much self-restraint it took to simply just say “Yes”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/33 "2014-07-04T04:49:10Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > One I find much annoying is people who call YOU and then want to put YOU on hold. If you want to talk to someone else don’t call ME. I had a a lawyer boss once, raised on the East Coast, who was (and still is) an arrogant and annoying prick. He used to have his secretary call people up and ask them to please hold for “Mr. X” while he finished whatever he was doing. Apparently it usually worked. No one has ever tried that with me. I suppose I’d do that for the President of the United States or a judge on one of my cases, but anyone else would get a “no”. > [@Marlonius](#): > > Yeah, “what’s up with that?” > > I had a guy call me once and he asked me who it was. I told him that I wasn’t sure he understood how a phonecall was supposed to work. Then he got uppity and I hung up on him. > > His parents really failed him. Hugely. If you call me, I’d like to know “This is Ms. Y, and I’m calling about the M file.” That is what I actually do. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/34 "2014-07-04T19:14:13Z")
Have any of you realized that, seeing as pretty much nobody does it, it’s probably no longer standard procedure to identify yourself when you call someone? The procedure, as far as I know, is “Hello. I would like to speak to so-and-so.” “And who(m) may I say is calling” “BigT.” If you don’t do that, almost certainly, the call will go like this: “Hi. This is BigT. May I speak to so-and-so?” “Sure. What was your name again?” “BigT.” The only time I’ve ever not had that happen when I choose that option is the person already know me or I’ve called many times and they’ve gotten used to my name. I also do not know anyone who identifies themselves for personal calls, save for my mom’s best friend, and she only does it when she knows it’s not my mom talking. I’ve always seen it as a little quaint thing. Yes, I already know who is calling. That’s the only reason I answered the phone. ---
**Author:** ![runningdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@runningdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runningdude)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/35 "2014-07-05T02:08:51Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > … > Yeah, at work I always answer internal calls that have been made to a group number (rather than to me personally) with “Hi, it’s \.” But many people don’t - why not? Plausible deniability in case the call is for you and you don’t want to take it. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/36 "2014-07-05T03:32:18Z")
I just wonder what kind of marvellous secretarys are out there transferring calls with “Mr. X, Mr. J from Y Company is calling. He says that it’s in reference to Z product.” 99.9999 percent of all calls I get, at home or at any of my jobs from the last 25 or more years have been transfers w/o a go-between’s explanation of who is calling. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/37 "2014-07-05T03:38:30Z")
This whole thread reeks of “Mr X is here for some people, and not for others – how important should I say you are?” ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/38 "2014-07-06T01:02:10Z")
Rude not to identify yourself. My phone rang a couple of days ago while I was driving, so I answered it on speaker to a guy saying, “Um… hello. Who is this?”. I mildly replied, “I believe it’s generally considered polite to say who you are first.” He revealed that he thought he had the wrong number, so I politely agreed with him and then hung up. My partner, who was listening, laughed for a good five minutes. It’s possible that this story might appear elsewhere, written by another, with the words “mildly” and “politely” replaced by “snootily” (or possibly “camply”) and “sternly”. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/39 "2014-07-06T01:16:22Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Man, don’t start me on the quirks of callers today! They are all pissing me off. > > I’ve gotten several today who call and say, “Uh…uh…hello, this is, um, um, um, [name]…and uh, well I…well I got transferred here from such and such, and I’m not even sure this is the right place, but…you know, I’ve been trying to call someone about this uh…it happened last Thursday or might have been Friday…” > > At this point I am tearing my hair and silently screaming, “What the fuck do you waaaaaaaaaaaant?” You cannot expect rationality from someone who has just endured several layers of voice mail and is astonished to be talking to a human being. And why should I give my name to someone who is almost certain to pass me on to someone else? I don’t know your company’s policies, but that might be the explanation. Mostly I hate making business calls these days. When I had a problem with Delta Airlines a week ago, I called their help line, went through a couple of layers of voice mail (one requiring an oral response from me) till I finally got a human (after being on hold for 10 minutes) only to be told I should have called their web help line–if it was on their web site I didn’t notice, besides which since their web site failed, I was hoping a human could correct it. At any rate, I was transferred to their web help site, which put into another holding pattern from which they eventually disconnected. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194/40 "2014-07-07T04:11:31Z")
Everybody has Caller ID, and when I phone a service center with whom I am a subscriber, they already know who I am. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-call-without-stating-their-name-first/692194.md?page=3)