General Chat

Oh it does wind me up when you phone someone and just get the standard answer phone message like, "this is the O2 message service", you have no idea if the number is correct.

I just rang the washing machine repair man on a number the shop gave me, it really pees me off to have to leave details of name & contact number on a message service when it might be anybody getting the information.

Why don’t people, particularly businesses say who they are, it doesn’t have to be anything more than Bloggs repairs, or this is Jane’s phone, just a little reassurance that you are probably through to the right person.

Rant over, now about these darn washing machines that go wrong just out of warranty…………………………….. :-P

They are designed to do just that, Mayfield! :-D :-D

Maybe he runs the phone from home.?

If you were paying for the repairman by the hour wouldn't you be mad if you found you were paying him to answer his phone?

Mayfield, I agree. Even private individuals say "I'm sorry, I can't take your call---------" so you have to hope you recognise the voice.

We are old-fashioned and still answer the phone by giving our number. Our phone message starts with the number and then says A and B are not available-------. We are, though, very much in a minority.

OH's Vodafone message says "This is the Vodafone Voicemail for 077........." so I do know I have the right number.

the advice here is NOT to

a) give your phone number when answering the phone, or on an answer machine .................. has been like that ever since we arrived in North America in 1967

Nor do you answer by saying "hello, SylviaInCanada speaking." (ie giving out your name willy nilly)


b) nor do you give full names of anyone else living in the house.

We answer the phone just by saying "hello" .................. that has always been phone company advice, no-one here expects a private person to do any more.

Businesses always answer by "Good morning/afternoon, John Smith Hardware. How may I help you?"


Our answering machine starts by saying "You have reached the (surname) household. No-one is available to take your call. Please leave a message."


Again, a business answering machine of call centre would start with the name of the business, then "please leave a message and someone will contact you".