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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 1883 Views
I think "May I ask who's calling" is more polite. Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:26:55 PM 1299 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:31:17 PM 1251 Views
Well, but... Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:42:22 PM 1340 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:05:01 PM 1220 Views
you may not BE a receptionist... LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:20:09 PM 1377 Views
"And your name, so I can tell (the person you asked for)?" *NM* Hezzah - 23/09/2010 12:34:18 AM 613 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:33:24 PM 1332 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:38:45 PM 1185 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM 1498 Views
Well, the whole asking permission bit is part of being polite. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 09:05:43 PM 578 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:06:47 PM 1207 Views
Not so good for the phone answering, then. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:29:34 PM 605 Views
Hmm... Isaac - 22/09/2010 08:59:23 PM 1403 Views
It's "who" *NM* Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:50:15 PM 608 Views
Quite true Isaac - 22/09/2010 10:07:46 PM 1334 Views
I say, "May I ask who's calling?" Tigr - 22/09/2010 09:00:10 PM 1286 Views
What do you do if they say "No" ? TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:43:42 PM 1253 Views
Than you say. ''Ok." They may have a reason for not disclosing their name. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:56 PM 1279 Views
That reason is often that they are nutters. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:29:19 PM 1367 Views
I hate it when people pull the "attorney-client privilege" thing. Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:31:01 PM 1170 Views
They are almost invariably nutters. Elaine - 23/09/2010 01:45:41 PM 1655 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 622 Views
Tools! Tigr - 22/09/2010 10:13:32 PM 1267 Views
I usually ask: "Who am I speaking with, again?" ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:12:29 PM 1349 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 1480 Views
^ this. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:23:00 PM 580 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 1464 Views
+1 *NM* Rebekah - 22/09/2010 10:10:59 PM 699 Views
I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:27:05 PM 1407 Views
Re: I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:40:10 PM 1451 Views
well, i can sympathize with that a bit at least LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:00:34 PM 1615 Views
"Who should I say is calling?" *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:41:57 PM 597 Views
This. It's polite, and asks the question correctly. beetnemesis - 23/09/2010 02:05:01 AM 1260 Views
I usually say "Who may I say is calling?" but that works too... Tom - 23/09/2010 01:59:03 PM 1652 Views
language games..... temeraire - 22/09/2010 09:42:35 PM 1298 Views
There would be apoplectic outcries if I answered the phone in such a way lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:45:56 PM 1467 Views
yeah.... i'm happy i get to be informal! temeraire - 23/09/2010 02:58:31 AM 1323 Views
Who is this? is unprofessional random thoughts - 22/09/2010 09:45:05 PM 1338 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:48:58 PM 1509 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:54:13 PM 1306 Views
it is not US standards. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:03:47 PM 617 Views
good. *NM* ironclad - 22/09/2010 10:13:22 PM 669 Views
I generally don't because BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 10:43:38 PM 1217 Views
well fair enough... ironclad - 23/09/2010 08:07:08 AM 1281 Views
it doesn't matter if you HAVE to know their name. LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:07:18 PM 1356 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 1378 Views
You are being silly and immature. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:20 PM 1161 Views
Thanks for your input? lyringlas - 22/09/2010 10:17:21 PM 1441 Views
I usually say, "B*tch, who you be!?" Mats Gambling Buddy - 22/09/2010 10:13:57 PM 1259 Views
Do you pronounce that with a click sound? Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 10:15:29 PM 1329 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 1266 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? Zeeb - 22/09/2010 10:29:33 PM 1129 Views
Perfect. *NM* Avendesora - 23/09/2010 12:47:14 AM 680 Views
No you are *NM* Zeeb - 23/09/2010 11:53:07 AM 670 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 1438 Views
politeness is practically the definition of professionalism. LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:37:27 AM 1329 Views
Who is this? always comes across as rude. *NM* Chas - 22/09/2010 11:17:31 PM 593 Views
"Who may I say is calling, please?" is short and polite. Tashmere - 23/09/2010 01:13:43 AM 1272 Views
when someone asks me "may I ask who's calling?"... damookster - 23/09/2010 03:29:30 AM 1233 Views
that's because you're a tool LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:39:08 AM 1558 Views
because it amuses me *NM* damookster - 23/09/2010 03:41:18 AM 608 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 640 Views
Huh Sareitha Sedai - 15/07/2015 02:06:55 PM 844 Views
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