UK Telephone Etiquette

What do people now say on first answering the phone? With the new longer numbers, I can't imagine rattling it all off -- as in the olden days when everyone answered with their (usually) 6-digit number. I used to find that irritating but at least I memorized our phone number pretty fast!

What do people now say on first answering the phone? With the new longer numbers, I can't imagine rattling it all off -- as in the olden days when everyone answered with their (usually) 6-digit number. I used to find that irritating but at least I memorized our phone number pretty fast!

I think there is some interesting history to this.
When someone called you from a call box they wouldn't be charged for the call if they got the wrong number because they would only push the button if they got the right number. This was in the days of twopence for a call and it would be important if that was the last of your change.

What do people now say on first answering the phone? With the new longer numbers, I can't imagine rattling it all off -- as in the olden days when everyone answered with their (usually) 6-digit number. I used to find that irritating but at least I memorized our phone number pretty fast!

I still have a lot of friends and family in my little Welsh village who just give their phone number when someone rings. But it's only 3 digits. They'll say, "Manorbier 123" or whatever the last 3 digits of their telephone number are.

I think there is some interesting history to this.
When someone called you from a call box they wouldn't be charged for the call if they got the wrong number because they would only push the button if they got the right number. This was in the days of twopence for a call and it would be important if that was the last of your change.

Yes, that is a point. Back in the "olden" days not everybody was "on the phone" so there would have been much more use of call boxes. 

I say "speaking" or in a cheery voice "That's me!" and I tend to get a laugh out of it.

If I find out it is a 'junk mail' call, I just say "We're not interested, please take us off your list.", then hang up. Hubby usually says something I'd never say to them, debunking the myth that Brits are far more polite than Americans about these things. 

Yes!  I had to cancel some car insurance and I was going round and round and round with those people for almost an hour, at one point I handed the phone to my boyfriend who then spoke to them in a tone of voice I would never use!  He's my hero. 

If I find out it is a 'junk mail' call, I just say "We're not interested, please take us off your list.", then hang up. Hubby usually says something I'd never say to them, debunking the myth that Brits are far more polite than Americans about these things. 

lol, I witnessed this with my husband while wedding planning. Our ex photographer was giving me the run around on getting bridal pictures back to me and after about 3 months I sent my husband (then fiance) his email and said 'Look, YOU deal with this.'

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As an American not much startles me but the beast that came out of my husband during those email exchanges sure did! And the real kicker? The guy had been giving ME the run around for 3-4 months... 2 emails from my husband and he was all but giving me free prints!

As an American not much startles me but the beast that came out of my husband during those email exchanges sure did! And the real kicker? The guy had been giving ME the run around for 3-4 months... 2 emails from my husband and he was all but giving me free prints!

Sad to say but a lot of times, women just get walked on. Still! I found this true when we had a house renovation and the contractor just didn't want to talk to me. When something needs doing on the car, I send my son in with it because I know they won't pay any attention to my input. 

Sad to say but a lot of times, women just get walked on. Still! I found this true when we had a house renovation and the contractor just didn't want to talk to me. When something needs doing on the car, I send my son in with it because I know they won't pay any attention to my input. 

Very sad, but so true.  I had a mechanic one time tell me to come around to get his take on whether or not I needed a new muffler.  He didn't believe that I was smart enough to actually tell I needed a new one simply by my seeing a massive hole in the side of it.  I guess that's not a good enough indication.   

I have to say as a Brit, I found this thread very amusing, I never knew phone etiquette held so many pitfalls. When I was growing up, we only ever answered the phone with a gruff "hello?"

When I answer the phone, I am trying to get into the habit of saying "speaking". I used to just say "this is"....but no one understands me. Now, saying that, I have to admit I very rarely answer the phone unless its hubby or DD. I have the hardest time trying to understand anyone on the phone. The accent is just to heavy usually. I don't know how I did it when I worked here before as I spent hours on the phone talking to customers. Maybe my ears are getting old...I just have a horrible time with the accents now. If I have to make a phone call....I have to psych myself up to do it because I know they'll have a hard time understanding me...and I'll have a hard time understanding them. 

I have the hardest time trying to understand anyone on the phone. The accent is just to heavy usually.

Don't feel bad -- I used to have trouble understanding my own daughter on the phone 

I have the hardest time trying to understand anyone on the phone. The accent is just to heavy usually. I don't know how I did it when I worked here before as I spent hours on the phone talking to customers. Maybe my ears are getting old...I just have a horrible time with the accents now.

Heehee - when I first moved over, I did some temping for 2-3 different chartered surveyors & had to do audio typing.  I could not penetrate the Yorkshire accent back then, so it was a joke...  "I am writing in regard to ?? ?? ?? about the ?? ?? ??.  Please if you could ?? ?? ??" 

Strangely enough, although I have a solidly American accent, now when I go back to the US, I have a hard time readjusting at first to the accents over there...

I say - hold on a sec while I screw my American ears back on! 

Strangely enough, although I have a solidly American accent, now when I go back to the US, I have a hard time readjusting at first to the accents over there...

I say - hold on a sec while I screw my American ears back on! 

At times I find myself wondering 'was that American or British?'. I don't know if it is because I am immersed in British accents here, but we still watch so many American television shows, or what it is. It is almost like I bounce back and forth so much between the accents here, so many British shows AND American shows that it all runs together sometimes. It doesn't happen often, fortunately.

At times I find myself wondering 'was that American or British?'. I don't know if it is because I am immersed in British accents here, but we still watch so many American television shows, or what it is. It is almost like I bounce back and forth so much between the accents here, so many British shows AND American shows that it all runs together sometimes. It doesn't happen often, fortunately.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has that happen to them lol.