We look at how to make business calls.
Wilson and Wilson, can I help you?
Yes, this is Lin Chan from Acme Appliances. I'd like to speak to Mr Wilson if he's available
Would that be Mr Wilson Senior or Mr Wilson Junior?
I'll just see if he's available - hold the line please.
I'm sorry, Mr Wilson's in a meeting at the moment. May I take a message?
Yes, could you ask him to phone me please? My number's 23115654.
I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.
Let me check the number, 23115654.
I'll pass that message on. Thank you.
Acme Appliances, Lin Chan speaking.
This is Tom Wilson returning your call.
Ah yes, Mr Wilson. Thanks for calling back. I wanted to set up a meeting with you to discuss
your requirements for next year.
Yes certainly. How about Thursday about two-thirty.
Okay, I look forward to seeing you then.
Thursday, 2.30. See you then. Goodbye.
Goodbye . When we use the phone we can't see the other
person, so we have to listen carefully and speak clearly. Often we deal with a switchboard
operator or personal assistant, but the language we use on the phone follows conventions.
Wilson and Wilson, can I help you?
Yes, this is Lin Chan from Acme Appliances. I'd like to speak to Mr Wilson if he's available
please? When answering the phone, a switchboard operator
will usually say the name of the company, then "can I help you?" or "How can I help
you?"
Or they may not say anything after the name of the company. In any case, the caller normally
says their name, by saying 'this is' and their name, then the name of their company after
the words 'from' or 'of', and then who they would like to speak to.
Don't wait to be asked, but offer the information. On the phone, unless you know the other party
personally, always use polite, formal language. Wilson and Wilson. What do you want?
Lin Chan here. Put me through to Wilson.
He doesn't want to speak to you. Mr Wilson might not want to speak to Lin,
but it's not polite to say this. Notice that Lin says she wants to speak to Mr Wilson 'if
Often it's not convenient to speak to someone straight away. 'If he's available' really
means, 'If he wants to speak to me at the moment.'
Here's some useful phrases for asking for someone on the phone:
Is Mr Wilson available please?
Could I speak to Mr Wilson if he's available?
Could you put me through to Mr Wilson?
I'd like to speak to Mr Wilson if possible please.
So we can say: I'd like to speak to Mr Wilson, or
Could I speak to Mr Wilson? and
If he's available , or If possible
And another phrase is: Could you put me through please?
The receptionist says: "I'll just see if he's available," then, "hold
But Mr Wilson isn't available, so this is what she says:
I'm sorry, Mr Wilson's in a meeting at the moment.
'In a meeting' is code for it's not convenient for him to talk at the moment'. He may be
in a meeting, but he could also be out, or doing something else. Here's some phrases
to practise, that can be used for this situation. I'm sorry, he's in a meeting at the moment.
I'm sorry, he's not available at present.
I'm sorry, he's out of the office at the moment. And here's one not to use.
Too busy to talk to me obviously. To say someone can't talk because they're
busy, suggests that your call is not important. But the receptionist knows what to say, and
to ask if there's a message. May I take a message?
Yes, could you ask him to phone me please. My number's 23115654.
It's best to keep messages simple and to the point.
Here are a few simple phrases to use when leaving a message. Practise them with Lin.
Could you ask him to phone me please.
Could you get him to return my call please.
If he could call me back, that would be great. Of course the important detail here is the
actual phone number. It's important to pronounce each number carefully.
Two three, double one, five six five four.
In America they would probably say: Two three one one, five six five four. Try
oh four one four, six eight three one
nine double eight two, six double seven six or
nine eight eight two, six seven seven six. And the receptionist must also make sure she
Here are some phrases you can use to check details.
I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.
Could you just repeat the number please?
Could I have your number again please?
Would you mind repeating that? When Tom Wilson returns her call, Lin answers
like this: Ah yes, Mr Wilson. Thanks for calling back.
I wanted to set up a meeting with you to discuss your requirements for next year.
Yes certainly. How about Thursday at two-thirty?
Okay, I look forward to seeing you then.
Goodbye. First Lin thanks him for calling back. She
says, "Thanks for calling back". She could also say, "Thank you for returning my call."
Then she states the purpose of her call, and they make the arrangements for the meeting.
Because she wants the meeting, Lin lets Wilson suggest a time. This is polite, because he
is the customer in this situation. Then he says, "'I look forward to seeing you then."
Again, this is a polite way of ending a conversation, as well as being a signal that there is no
Notice too, that Lin repeats the day and time of the meeting so that both people are sure
Let's now just review the key phrases for phone calls when calling someone, and making
Repeat them with the receptionist and Lin. Wilson and Wilson, can I help you?
I'll just see if he's available.
Would you mind holding the line?
Would you like to leave a message?
Sorry, I didn't quite catch your name.
I'd like to speak to Mr Wilson
Could you put me through to Mr Wilson?
This is Lin Chan returning your call.
I look forward to seeing you then. The key points when using the phone are to
speak clearly and give essential information. Don't speak too fast, and check that the other
person has understood. If not, you may need to rephrase. Use polite, formal language - these
conventional phrases are signals for the other person. We need to respond in the right way,
or the conversation could be quite short. Acme Applicances, Lin Chan speaking.
This is Tom Wilson returning your call.
Ah yes, Mr Wilson. Thank you for calling me back.
That's alright. Goodbye. And it's goodbye from The Business of English