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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 1577 Views
I think "May I ask who's calling" is more polite. Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:26:55 PM 999 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:31:17 PM 961 Views
Well, but... Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:42:22 PM 1042 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:05:01 PM 918 Views
you may not BE a receptionist... LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:20:09 PM 1070 Views
"And your name, so I can tell (the person you asked for)?" *NM* Hezzah - 23/09/2010 12:34:18 AM 462 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:33:24 PM 1035 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:38:45 PM 869 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM 1219 Views
Well, the whole asking permission bit is part of being polite. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 09:05:43 PM 428 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:06:47 PM 916 Views
Not so good for the phone answering, then. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:29:34 PM 462 Views
Hmm... Isaac - 22/09/2010 08:59:23 PM 1072 Views
It's "who" *NM* Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:50:15 PM 458 Views
Quite true Isaac - 22/09/2010 10:07:46 PM 1017 Views
I say, "May I ask who's calling?" Tigr - 22/09/2010 09:00:10 PM 1008 Views
What do you do if they say "No" ? TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:43:42 PM 952 Views
Than you say. ''Ok." They may have a reason for not disclosing their name. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:56 PM 963 Views
That reason is often that they are nutters. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:29:19 PM 1074 Views
I hate it when people pull the "attorney-client privilege" thing. Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:31:01 PM 871 Views
They are almost invariably nutters. Elaine - 23/09/2010 01:45:41 PM 1316 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 465 Views
Tools! Tigr - 22/09/2010 10:13:32 PM 938 Views
I usually ask: "Who am I speaking with, again?" ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:12:29 PM 1048 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 1175 Views
^ this. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:23:00 PM 442 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 1094 Views
+1 *NM* Rebekah - 22/09/2010 10:10:59 PM 522 Views
I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:27:05 PM 1090 Views
Re: I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:40:10 PM 1105 Views
well, i can sympathize with that a bit at least LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:00:34 PM 1236 Views
"Who should I say is calling?" *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:41:57 PM 434 Views
This. It's polite, and asks the question correctly. beetnemesis - 23/09/2010 02:05:01 AM 916 Views
I usually say "Who may I say is calling?" but that works too... Tom - 23/09/2010 01:59:03 PM 1326 Views
language games..... temeraire - 22/09/2010 09:42:35 PM 997 Views
There would be apoplectic outcries if I answered the phone in such a way lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:45:56 PM 1145 Views
yeah.... i'm happy i get to be informal! temeraire - 23/09/2010 02:58:31 AM 1024 Views
Who is this? is unprofessional random thoughts - 22/09/2010 09:45:05 PM 1023 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:48:58 PM 1199 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:54:13 PM 999 Views
it is not US standards. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:03:47 PM 463 Views
good. *NM* ironclad - 22/09/2010 10:13:22 PM 520 Views
I generally don't because BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 10:43:38 PM 889 Views
well fair enough... ironclad - 23/09/2010 08:07:08 AM 987 Views
it doesn't matter if you HAVE to know their name. LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:07:18 PM 1063 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 1058 Views
You are being silly and immature. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:20 PM 876 Views
Thanks for your input? lyringlas - 22/09/2010 10:17:21 PM 1095 Views
I usually say, "B*tch, who you be!?" Mats Gambling Buddy - 22/09/2010 10:13:57 PM 979 Views
Do you pronounce that with a click sound? Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 10:15:29 PM 1006 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 960 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? Zeeb - 22/09/2010 10:29:33 PM 822 Views
Perfect. *NM* Avendesora - 23/09/2010 12:47:14 AM 516 Views
No you are *NM* Zeeb - 23/09/2010 11:53:07 AM 508 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 1107 Views
politeness is practically the definition of professionalism. LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:37:27 AM 1031 Views
Who is this? always comes across as rude. *NM* Chas - 22/09/2010 11:17:31 PM 436 Views
"Who may I say is calling, please?" is short and polite. Tashmere - 23/09/2010 01:13:43 AM 950 Views
when someone asks me "may I ask who's calling?"... damookster - 23/09/2010 03:29:30 AM 921 Views
that's because you're a tool LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:39:08 AM 1252 Views
because it amuses me *NM* damookster - 23/09/2010 03:41:18 AM 464 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 500 Views
Huh Sareitha Sedai - 15/07/2015 02:06:55 PM 541 Views
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