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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 1603 Views
I think "May I ask who's calling" is more polite. Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:26:55 PM 1026 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:31:17 PM 987 Views
Well, but... Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:42:22 PM 1069 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:05:01 PM 944 Views
you may not BE a receptionist... LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:20:09 PM 1093 Views
"And your name, so I can tell (the person you asked for)?" *NM* Hezzah - 23/09/2010 12:34:18 AM 479 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:33:24 PM 1062 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:38:45 PM 899 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM 1245 Views
Well, the whole asking permission bit is part of being polite. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 09:05:43 PM 440 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:06:47 PM 940 Views
Not so good for the phone answering, then. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:29:34 PM 474 Views
Hmm... Isaac - 22/09/2010 08:59:23 PM 1097 Views
It's "who" *NM* Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:50:15 PM 469 Views
Quite true Isaac - 22/09/2010 10:07:46 PM 1042 Views
I say, "May I ask who's calling?" Tigr - 22/09/2010 09:00:10 PM 1032 Views
What do you do if they say "No" ? TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:43:42 PM 976 Views
Than you say. ''Ok." They may have a reason for not disclosing their name. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:56 PM 988 Views
That reason is often that they are nutters. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:29:19 PM 1096 Views
I hate it when people pull the "attorney-client privilege" thing. Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:31:01 PM 894 Views
They are almost invariably nutters. Elaine - 23/09/2010 01:45:41 PM 1342 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 476 Views
Tools! Tigr - 22/09/2010 10:13:32 PM 961 Views
I usually ask: "Who am I speaking with, again?" ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:12:29 PM 1072 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 1198 Views
^ this. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:23:00 PM 452 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 1138 Views
+1 *NM* Rebekah - 22/09/2010 10:10:59 PM 535 Views
I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:27:05 PM 1122 Views
Re: I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:40:10 PM 1139 Views
well, i can sympathize with that a bit at least LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:00:34 PM 1260 Views
"Who should I say is calling?" *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:41:57 PM 446 Views
This. It's polite, and asks the question correctly. beetnemesis - 23/09/2010 02:05:01 AM 942 Views
I usually say "Who may I say is calling?" but that works too... Tom - 23/09/2010 01:59:03 PM 1351 Views
language games..... temeraire - 22/09/2010 09:42:35 PM 1022 Views
There would be apoplectic outcries if I answered the phone in such a way lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:45:56 PM 1177 Views
yeah.... i'm happy i get to be informal! temeraire - 23/09/2010 02:58:31 AM 1057 Views
Who is this? is unprofessional random thoughts - 22/09/2010 09:45:05 PM 1046 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:48:58 PM 1224 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:54:13 PM 1021 Views
it is not US standards. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:03:47 PM 487 Views
good. *NM* ironclad - 22/09/2010 10:13:22 PM 531 Views
I generally don't because BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 10:43:38 PM 913 Views
well fair enough... ironclad - 23/09/2010 08:07:08 AM 1014 Views
it doesn't matter if you HAVE to know their name. LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:07:18 PM 1091 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 1088 Views
You are being silly and immature. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:20 PM 901 Views
Thanks for your input? lyringlas - 22/09/2010 10:17:21 PM 1122 Views
I usually say, "B*tch, who you be!?" Mats Gambling Buddy - 22/09/2010 10:13:57 PM 1004 Views
Do you pronounce that with a click sound? Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 10:15:29 PM 1034 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 988 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? Zeeb - 22/09/2010 10:29:33 PM 843 Views
Perfect. *NM* Avendesora - 23/09/2010 12:47:14 AM 527 Views
No you are *NM* Zeeb - 23/09/2010 11:53:07 AM 519 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 1138 Views
politeness is practically the definition of professionalism. LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:37:27 AM 1055 Views
Who is this? always comes across as rude. *NM* Chas - 22/09/2010 11:17:31 PM 452 Views
"Who may I say is calling, please?" is short and polite. Tashmere - 23/09/2010 01:13:43 AM 976 Views
when someone asks me "may I ask who's calling?"... damookster - 23/09/2010 03:29:30 AM 951 Views
that's because you're a tool LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:39:08 AM 1279 Views
because it amuses me *NM* damookster - 23/09/2010 03:41:18 AM 474 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 511 Views
Huh Sareitha Sedai - 15/07/2015 02:06:55 PM 575 Views
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