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You are being silly and immature. Aeryn Send a noteboard - 22/09/2010 09:49:20 PM
Privacy is a BIG thing. You may not demand to know the caller's name. You may only politely inquire if you may breach their privacy by learning their name. And yes, you do need permission for that.

Good alternative include

"May I have your name?"

"What is your name, if you don't mind?" (more casual; I usually only say this way when I'm already taking down a message from them)

"May I tell him who's calling?"

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. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:19:28 PM 1724 Views
I think "May I ask who's calling" is more polite. Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:26:55 PM 1137 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:31:17 PM 1100 Views
Well, but... Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:42:22 PM 1189 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:05:01 PM 1058 Views
you may not BE a receptionist... LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:20:09 PM 1206 Views
"And your name, so I can tell (the person you asked for)?" *NM* Hezzah - 23/09/2010 12:34:18 AM 528 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:33:24 PM 1169 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:38:45 PM 1041 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM 1351 Views
Well, the whole asking permission bit is part of being polite. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 09:05:43 PM 499 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:06:47 PM 1052 Views
Not so good for the phone answering, then. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:29:34 PM 528 Views
Hmm... Isaac - 22/09/2010 08:59:23 PM 1205 Views
It's "who" *NM* Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:50:15 PM 521 Views
Quite true Isaac - 22/09/2010 10:07:46 PM 1163 Views
I say, "May I ask who's calling?" Tigr - 22/09/2010 09:00:10 PM 1126 Views
What do you do if they say "No" ? TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:43:42 PM 1094 Views
Than you say. ''Ok." They may have a reason for not disclosing their name. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:56 PM 1111 Views
That reason is often that they are nutters. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:29:19 PM 1206 Views
I hate it when people pull the "attorney-client privilege" thing. Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:31:01 PM 1009 Views
They are almost invariably nutters. Elaine - 23/09/2010 01:45:41 PM 1474 Views
Ah, you mean because they want to sell my boss storm windows or vinyl siding. *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 10:30:15 PM 539 Views
Tools! Tigr - 22/09/2010 10:13:32 PM 1089 Views
I usually ask: "Who am I speaking with, again?" ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:12:29 PM 1180 Views
I'm of the opinion that when you are at work, you represent your employer M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 09:14:58 PM 1322 Views
^ this. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:23:00 PM 501 Views
Re: I'm of the opinion that when you are at work, you represent your employer lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:42:29 PM 1277 Views
+1 *NM* Rebekah - 22/09/2010 10:10:59 PM 593 Views
I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:27:05 PM 1251 Views
Re: I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:40:10 PM 1256 Views
well, i can sympathize with that a bit at least LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:00:34 PM 1401 Views
"Who should I say is calling?" *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:41:57 PM 516 Views
This. It's polite, and asks the question correctly. beetnemesis - 23/09/2010 02:05:01 AM 1070 Views
I usually say "Who may I say is calling?" but that works too... Tom - 23/09/2010 01:59:03 PM 1466 Views
language games..... temeraire - 22/09/2010 09:42:35 PM 1126 Views
There would be apoplectic outcries if I answered the phone in such a way lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:45:56 PM 1305 Views
yeah.... i'm happy i get to be informal! temeraire - 23/09/2010 02:58:31 AM 1169 Views
Who is this? is unprofessional random thoughts - 22/09/2010 09:45:05 PM 1177 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:48:58 PM 1339 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:54:13 PM 1146 Views
it is not US standards. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:03:47 PM 538 Views
good. *NM* ironclad - 22/09/2010 10:13:22 PM 583 Views
I generally don't because BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 10:43:38 PM 1044 Views
well fair enough... ironclad - 23/09/2010 08:07:08 AM 1133 Views
it doesn't matter if you HAVE to know their name. LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:07:18 PM 1206 Views
You don’t have to transfer for them if they refuse but you should still ask politely random thoughts - 22/09/2010 10:31:55 PM 1218 Views
You are being silly and immature. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:20 PM 1009 Views
Thanks for your input? lyringlas - 22/09/2010 10:17:21 PM 1267 Views
I usually say, "B*tch, who you be!?" Mats Gambling Buddy - 22/09/2010 10:13:57 PM 1114 Views
Do you pronounce that with a click sound? Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 10:15:29 PM 1161 Views
And I be all, like, sobbing and crying cause you're a rude jerk. And then you laugh at me some more TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 10:33:38 PM 1111 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? Zeeb - 22/09/2010 10:29:33 PM 956 Views
Perfect. *NM* Avendesora - 23/09/2010 12:47:14 AM 586 Views
No you are *NM* Zeeb - 23/09/2010 11:53:07 AM 583 Views
Please stop splitting hairs. You're way is simply inccorrect. You cannot justify the rudeness away. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:49:05 PM 1269 Views
politeness is practically the definition of professionalism. LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:37:27 AM 1170 Views
Who is this? always comes across as rude. *NM* Chas - 22/09/2010 11:17:31 PM 513 Views
"Who may I say is calling, please?" is short and polite. Tashmere - 23/09/2010 01:13:43 AM 1113 Views
when someone asks me "may I ask who's calling?"... damookster - 23/09/2010 03:29:30 AM 1085 Views
that's because you're a tool LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:39:08 AM 1393 Views
because it amuses me *NM* damookster - 23/09/2010 03:41:18 AM 529 Views
It's quite simple, really. Do you like getting paid? Then answer the phone the way your boss wants *NM* Missa Sedai - 24/09/2010 03:46:24 AM 564 Views
Huh Sareitha Sedai - 15/07/2015 02:06:55 PM 687 Views
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