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it doesn't matter if you HAVE to know their name. LadyLorraine Send a noteboard - 22/09/2010 10:07:18 PM
it is still polite and professional to not demand a breach of their privacy. They have a right to not give out their name (I'm not saying this means you must behave as if they had, I'm just saying they have a right not to give it.)

If they refuse to give their name, you merely tell them you cannot transfer them etc...etc...without being able to tell your boss who is calling. If they throw a fit, it's not your fault. If they throw a fit because they found your question intrusive and unprofessional, they might be over reacting, but you can still catch blame.
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. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:19:28 PM 1782 Views
I think "May I ask who's calling" is more polite. Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:26:55 PM 1194 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:31:17 PM 1146 Views
Well, but... Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:42:22 PM 1246 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:05:01 PM 1113 Views
you may not BE a receptionist... LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:20:09 PM 1257 Views
"And your name, so I can tell (the person you asked for)?" *NM* Hezzah - 23/09/2010 12:34:18 AM 551 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:33:24 PM 1228 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:38:45 PM 1087 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM 1397 Views
Well, the whole asking permission bit is part of being polite. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 09:05:43 PM 522 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:06:47 PM 1111 Views
Not so good for the phone answering, then. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:29:34 PM 551 Views
Hmm... Isaac - 22/09/2010 08:59:23 PM 1251 Views
It's "who" *NM* Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:50:15 PM 546 Views
Quite true Isaac - 22/09/2010 10:07:46 PM 1221 Views
I say, "May I ask who's calling?" Tigr - 22/09/2010 09:00:10 PM 1184 Views
What do you do if they say "No" ? TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:43:42 PM 1149 Views
Than you say. ''Ok." They may have a reason for not disclosing their name. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:56 PM 1162 Views
That reason is often that they are nutters. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:29:19 PM 1256 Views
I hate it when people pull the "attorney-client privilege" thing. Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:31:01 PM 1065 Views
They are almost invariably nutters. Elaine - 23/09/2010 01:45:41 PM 1535 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 563 Views
Tools! Tigr - 22/09/2010 10:13:32 PM 1153 Views
I usually ask: "Who am I speaking with, again?" ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:12:29 PM 1247 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 1382 Views
^ this. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:23:00 PM 522 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 1333 Views
+1 *NM* Rebekah - 22/09/2010 10:10:59 PM 621 Views
I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:27:05 PM 1303 Views
Re: I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:40:10 PM 1319 Views
well, i can sympathize with that a bit at least LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:00:34 PM 1465 Views
"Who should I say is calling?" *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:41:57 PM 542 Views
This. It's polite, and asks the question correctly. beetnemesis - 23/09/2010 02:05:01 AM 1126 Views
I usually say "Who may I say is calling?" but that works too... Tom - 23/09/2010 01:59:03 PM 1530 Views
language games..... temeraire - 22/09/2010 09:42:35 PM 1176 Views
There would be apoplectic outcries if I answered the phone in such a way lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:45:56 PM 1359 Views
yeah.... i'm happy i get to be informal! temeraire - 23/09/2010 02:58:31 AM 1217 Views
Who is this? is unprofessional random thoughts - 22/09/2010 09:45:05 PM 1236 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:48:58 PM 1396 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:54:13 PM 1193 Views
it is not US standards. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:03:47 PM 560 Views
good. *NM* ironclad - 22/09/2010 10:13:22 PM 610 Views
I generally don't because BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 10:43:38 PM 1107 Views
well fair enough... ironclad - 23/09/2010 08:07:08 AM 1179 Views
it doesn't matter if you HAVE to know their name. LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:07:18 PM 1257 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 1268 Views
You are being silly and immature. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:20 PM 1058 Views
Thanks for your input? lyringlas - 22/09/2010 10:17:21 PM 1333 Views
I usually say, "B*tch, who you be!?" Mats Gambling Buddy - 22/09/2010 10:13:57 PM 1167 Views
Do you pronounce that with a click sound? Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 10:15:29 PM 1221 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 1168 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? Zeeb - 22/09/2010 10:29:33 PM 1020 Views
Perfect. *NM* Avendesora - 23/09/2010 12:47:14 AM 608 Views
No you are *NM* Zeeb - 23/09/2010 11:53:07 AM 608 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 1325 Views
politeness is practically the definition of professionalism. LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:37:27 AM 1222 Views
Who is this? always comes across as rude. *NM* Chas - 22/09/2010 11:17:31 PM 534 Views
"Who may I say is calling, please?" is short and polite. Tashmere - 23/09/2010 01:13:43 AM 1170 Views
when someone asks me "may I ask who's calling?"... damookster - 23/09/2010 03:29:30 AM 1136 Views
that's because you're a tool LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:39:08 AM 1443 Views
because it amuses me *NM* damookster - 23/09/2010 03:41:18 AM 551 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 585 Views
Huh Sareitha Sedai - 15/07/2015 02:06:55 PM 733 Views
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