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Original poster

To find 'pet' names unprofessional in CS?

216 replies

BigFatBully · 13/10/2025 17:24

Am I being unreasonable to find the usage of pet names by customer service staff unprofessional?

I am the customer and a stranger, I expect to be treated with respect. My name isn't sweetheart, it isn't love, honey, darling or sweetie.

I think pet names are fine for family members, spouses or CLOSE friends. Am I being unreasonable to think there is a time and a place for such familiarity?

OP posts:
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ThinkMuchMore · 15/10/2025 05:44

I hate the names. They feel too intimate. But I know they are not said with malice so I ofc don’t say anything. I just cringe inwardly.

Fairywingsandroses · 15/10/2025 02:25

BigFatBully · 14/10/2025 22:32

I don't see any grammatical errors...however, this is a forum, not a legal document!

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Since you don’t see it, it should be ‘were ‘ not ‘was’..

CherrieTomaties · 15/10/2025 02:24

When I worked in retail and hospitality I would have loved to have called most customers “cunt”.

Consider you and your husband lucky, OP.

CrazyGoatLady · 15/10/2025 02:00

BigFatBully · 14/10/2025 22:32

I don't see any grammatical errors...however, this is a forum, not a legal document!

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Was you not taught grammar in school then petal?

JudgeJ · 14/10/2025 23:53

BigFatBully · 14/10/2025 22:32

I don't see any grammatical errors...however, this is a forum, not a legal document!

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You're not helping yourself if you can't see your error!

JudgeJ · 14/10/2025 23:46

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 13/10/2025 22:26

It’s only ok if they are old and or northern

One assumes you mean north of St Albans!

JudgeJ · 14/10/2025 23:43

itsgettingweird · 13/10/2025 18:11

Lord and lady Uptheirownbumingtons

Thats genius 🤣🤣🤣🤣

A bit unfair to the OP's husband, to lump him in with her, the only thing he's guilty of is poor choice of wives!

JudgeJ · 14/10/2025 23:33

BigFatBully · 13/10/2025 17:27

I hasten to add, we were in a bar the other day and my husband was referred to as "pal". I said to the bartender, "how do you know my husband for him to be your pal?"

I'm sure that your husband was thrilled to have his wife stand up for him so vociferously! What's it got to do with you how/if he knows your husband?

StrongLikeMamma · 14/10/2025 23:32

supersonicginandtonic · 14/10/2025 21:55

Oh I love it! My mums Irish and my. Dad's a Yorkshire man so I get called all sorts. My dad greets everybody with "alrate cocker", it's normal for him:

Love it.

Wotcha Cock!! 🙌

StrongLikeMamma · 14/10/2025 23:30

sanityisamyth · 14/10/2025 22:54

You can’t see anything wrong with “Was you called …”?!

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🙈🙈🙈

StrongLikeMamma · 14/10/2025 23:30

BigFatBully · 13/10/2025 17:27

I hasten to add, we were in a bar the other day and my husband was referred to as "pal". I said to the bartender, "how do you know my husband for him to be your pal?"

You sound fun!!

Isittimeformynapyet · 14/10/2025 23:00

BigFatBully · 14/10/2025 22:32

I don't see any grammatical errors...however, this is a forum, not a legal document!

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"was you called" is an egregious error, Poppet.

Basic English is not the preserve of the legal professions.

sanityisamyth · 14/10/2025 22:54

BigFatBully · 14/10/2025 22:32

I don't see any grammatical errors...however, this is a forum, not a legal document!

Show quote history

You can’t see anything wrong with “Was you called …”?!

Isittimeformynapyet · 14/10/2025 22:54

Marylou2 · 13/10/2025 17:43

I used to go to the Stoke/Staffordshire area for work and if someone didn't call me "me duck" I felt personally aggrieved. I adore a regional term of endearment. Usually love/lovely near me. Calling your husband Pal sounds quite Scottish/Glasweigan. I mean it's in a bar not at a solicitors.

I visited Glasgow recently and at the airport on the way home the woman who served me in duty free asked if I'd had a nice time. I said I was disappointed because nobody had called me hen. Naturally she was happy to oblige. It was a lovely exchange.

sanityisamyth · 14/10/2025 22:52

You sound … fun …

Beesandhoney123 · 14/10/2025 22:42

I like it, and I like getting regional Cs staff, because they all have different ways of saying things, a different accent or how they address me. It brings a little bit of joy to my day, to converse with someone say from Yorkshire. They are trying to enjoy their job too.

No one has ever called me madam though:)

Can't your husband speak for himself? If he didn't mind, why should you? Bar staff are supposed to be friendly. Would you prefer to be ignored then ' what do you want, fuckwit?'

Original poster
BigFatBully · 14/10/2025 22:32

CrazyGoatLady · 14/10/2025 22:19

Not sure that you have a leg to stand on telling others what is and isn't appropriate language when your grammar is that bad!

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I don't see any grammatical errors...however, this is a forum, not a legal document!

OP posts:
CrazyGoatLady · 14/10/2025 22:19

BigFatBully · 14/10/2025 21:51

Was you called that term in the West Country? It sounds like a South Western term - "my lovely".

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Not sure that you have a leg to stand on telling others what is and isn't appropriate language when your grammar is that bad!

supersonicginandtonic · 14/10/2025 21:55

Oh I love it! My mums Irish and my. Dad's a Yorkshire man so I get called all sorts. My dad greets everybody with "alrate cocker", it's normal for him:

Original poster
BigFatBully · 14/10/2025 21:51

xSideshowAuntSallyXx · 14/10/2025 13:10

Someone called me 'lovely' the other day. As in "there you go my lovely". I was in the supermarket, doesn't bother me.

Bus drivers, taxi drivers, the man at the kebab van, the guys on the market stalls. Sweetheart seems to be popular or darling. It's called being friendly.

Depending on county, you could get called "my duck" or "my love", or "pet".

I'd rather be called Sweetheart or darling than mate mind you. I find mate really something you'd call a man.

Was you called that term in the West Country? It sounds like a South Western term - "my lovely".

OP posts:
WalkDontWalk · 14/10/2025 21:23

Knowsley · 14/10/2025 13:13

@BedlingtonFloof , pal sounds quite rude to me, but it might be OK in some regions.

If I go somewhere like a bank, I do not want to be called love, darling, sweetheart, chuck, doll, duck, my lover, ...
The person serving should be aware that it's not acceptable.

Er...I think it's acceptable. I accept it. I am able to accept it. It's acceptable.

WalkDontWalk · 14/10/2025 21:21

I like it.

Edenmum2 · 14/10/2025 21:19

BigFatBully · 14/10/2025 00:44

If they really knew me, they wouldn't be calling me lovely, hehe. 😂😂😉

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Yeah no shit

WellYouWereMythTaken · 14/10/2025 21:16

BigFatBully · 13/10/2025 17:27

I hasten to add, we were in a bar the other day and my husband was referred to as "pal". I said to the bartender, "how do you know my husband for him to be your pal?"

Is hard to walk with that stick up your arse?

GinaandGin · 14/10/2025 21:10

This I'm in derry 🇮🇪, they'd last 1 min

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