Little officiate made my day! :)

pmf63

I just rang the council tax office to query next years bill and a boy, yes about 12 by the sound of him, answered the phone, 'Thank you for calling the Bristol Council tax offices, your speaking to Mr. Winston how can I help you today?'

I was so taken aback that I ask again who I was speaking to. 'Mr Winston' he said, emphatically. I could barely contain my laughter. I though only my grandfathers era instisted on Mr?

Made my day though.

iolanthe07

Good for him. I hate this modern tendancy to use first names when you don't know the person and have not been introduced.

pmf63

haha ... see now I am on the other side of the coin. I hate it when people call me Mr xxx. My granddad was Mr. xxx, my dad, well my dad rarely knew who he was and I am Paul.

I really feel uncomfortable when people call me Mr. Even worse is being called Sir.

Superbiatch

When somebody rings my office I always give my first name, manners really and creates a bit of familiarity and warmth. Its basic customer service skills.

But I do work in the NHS dealing with the public and I wouldn't necessarily expect this response from a DCA for example.

pmf63

Superbiatch wrote: »

... I wouldn't necessarily expect this response from a DCA for example.

to be honest ... I am going to sound hypocritical now because I don't think DCA staff would make me feel comfortable calling me Paul. And if they do I tend to look upon it as a scam to gain my confidence, which won't happen.

The call I made this morning was to the Council tax office and nothing to do with a debt.

But I do respect that everyone has different views and i respect those views.

elljay

Where my mum lives the 'tradesmen' etc all say ma'am and virtually doff their caps they are so deferential. I once asked one of the removal men why they did it, perhaps it was a Devon thing but he didn't even realise he was doing it. I hate it, it makes for such a 'them and us' mentality. I far prefer first names, it puts us all on an even footing which we are. But my mum and her chums all love it, it shows that everyone knows their places.

But as you say, live and let live..........