Cell & Land Line Phone Etiquette....

*Several requests for this topic have been requested. This post first appeared last year.

Land Line & Cell Phone Etiquette....

Use your Manners while using the Phone...

Rudeness and lack of consideration has crept into our everyday lives. 

This happens on "BOTH" ends of the phone. 

Whether it is a land line or mobile phone!

When using phone etiquette, just use the "Golden Rule", 
Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you....

Simple Rules for Phone Manners:

Check the number you are calling before you dial. 

If you call a wrong number, apologize politely. 

If you received a wrong number call, explain politely they have called

 a wrong number.

Give people enough time to answer the phone...they may be busy too!

 Leave them a polite message on their voice mail, if you need a returned call.

A short concise message with your phone number is all that's needed.

 

Don't make a call if you don't have the time to talk. If you need to be quick,

 state it up front! Ask if it is convenient to talk now. Ask if you are

 interrupting anything? Let them know... "they" may call you back at a more convenient time.

If "they" say they have a "moment"...keep it short. Ask them to call "you" 

back

if you need more talk time! If you say you will call back....CALL BACK!

When "YOU" call someone don't ask them "wait" while you "do" something else....unless there is an emergency! The same goes for when you "answer"

 the phone.

Talk clear and concise on the phone. Loud enough to be heard. But...not 

so loud that everyone KNOWS your personal business. Everyone has enough worries in their life without hearing YOURS!

Always say; Hello, Please, Thank You and Goodbye! Always identify whom is

 speaking. Even though, "they" may have "caller id",... it doesn't mean they

 know "who" is on the phone.

Be an attentive listener! It is hard to have a conversation with someone who 

doesn't practice this art...what is good for one, is good for all.

Haven't we all had this caller: "Yackey-Yack-Yack, all about ME, and then doesn't listen too YOU"! It makes you not want to answer their next phone call!) 

Use common courtesy at all times.

Use the person's name when you talk, especially when thanking them etc. 

Just like you would in person.

If "bad" news needs to be delivered, if at all possible deliver it in person.

Answer your phone promptly or return the caller's phone call promptly.

Never be too busy to be nice and polite. Being pleasant usually works best. 

If you have rude caller and they won't listen...hang up after you inform them

 you're doing so....

If you have company, let the caller know that you must be brief. And, that 

you will return their phone call at a later time.

If you take a phone message, do so clearly with the name and phone number.

 Make sure the right person gets the message. 

Always return your calls in a timely manner.

Try to let the caller end the phone call first. Unless... you have a caller that

 continues on and on, over and over...then excuse yourself from the call.


Children should not answer the phone unless properly instructed in phone 

etiquette. Especially business calls...


If you answer or call from someone else's phone... always identify who is 

answering or calling.


Phone calls in general should never be made before 7:00am or after 9:00pm 

(I prefer 8:00pm for my household. That is our relax and sit back time.)

 Unless otherwise prearranged. Always try to avoid mealtimes.

If you are a solicitor calling, phone etiquette is a MUST. Do you want to be

 called at home by a rude solicitor? I think NOT. Do unto others...

NEVER eat while talking on the PHONE!

If you have more than one extension on your home number:
If you answer the phone on one extension, and alert another person they

 have a phone call...when they pick up the other extension, carefully and

quickly hang up your extension. It is EXTREMELY rude to listen in on a 

 conversation that is NOT yours!

It is also extremely rude to be LISTENING on an extension to an incoming 

phone call THAT you have not answered. 

 You NEVER listen in on someone's personal phone call. 

If you pick up the phone announce that you are joining the conversation.

 

 There is no apology for that kind of behavior! It is never acceptable!

 (*It also causes unnecessary background noise, which is also rude. 

Rudeness can be avoided, just like many accidents.) 


Keep your general phone calls to a minimum so as not to interfere with 

other people's daily routine's or schedules. 

Make business calls well before the end of the business day. Unless you

 have a prearranged appointment.

These are few cell phone rules in addition to the above information....

When in public places, put your phone on silent or vibrate.

 If you forget, do so immediately when it rings, beeps....etc. 

Events such as; Movies, Weddings, Graduations, Dining, Funerals, 

Business meetings, Party's....get the idea?

 Same goes for texting....just kick in the common sense and courtesy.

Excuse yourself from the table or room if you need to answer or make a 

phone call. (*Keep in mind there may be reasons for people not excusing themselves...one of them is physical handicaps, seen or not seen.

 It may not always be easy to get "up!" They, also should use their 

common sense & courtesy at the table. And so should YOU!)

 Today, because of mobile phones, people are able to conduct business

 just about anywhere. Being polite needs to be used on both sides of the 

fence! 

Games on the phone are for waiting rooms....not the dinner table. 

 Although, it can be a great tool for a bored child at dinner,

 but NEVER an adult.

If you are talking on a cell phone and you are with another person,

 such as in a store, keep walking. If you can walk and chew gum...

you can walk and talk!

In California (and some other States) you now have restrictions about talking 

and holding the phone while driving. Newer cars have sync systems that

 connect your phone to the vehicle's stereo system, making hands free calls 

simple. There are also ear pieces and portable systems that do the same. 

When receiving a phone call from a cell phone user, you may hear traffic noise, a faint or tin can sound in their voice. This is NOT the callers fault. 

It has to do with the technology. If you can't hear them,

 it is YOUR responsibility to inform them. Otherwise, how will they know?

 Also keep in mind that this technology is not perfect.

 If you can't hear someone, say you will call back.

 Don't be ignorant and blame them! Use you manners!

When on your speaker phone or the speakers in your vehicle WITH passengers...

ALERT the person on the other end that THEY are being heard by ALL! 

Dropped calls occur often. These are not the callers fault. 

Lots of things cause this to happen. USE your patience and COMMON sense.

And... LAST but not LEAST....

Whether you are on a land line or a cell....make sure you END your

 phone call. BEFORE... you STUPIDLY do something! Like... 

TALK about the person you THOUGHT you hung up with! 

This has happened to us, and "others" that we know! 

 ***This happens sometimes when a caller gets a text or email while

 ending the phone call. You CANNOT end the call until the other person 

hangs up THEIR phone OR about 10-20 minutes pass and the vehicle finally disconnects the original call. Then it's TOO LATE,

 they have HEARD EVERYTHING you've said!

"BEEN THERE, DONE THAT...DON"T WANT TO GO THERE AGAIN!" 

(And,... "that" can cause another "whole set" of problems....BOY HOWDY!)

 Ignorance is NOT Bliss, when you use BAD MANNERS!

I may have missed a few rules of etiquette. But, this covers quite a few. 

But, it all boils down to using common courtesy 24-7-365!    

As Always Be Gracious & Kind with Style...