to not have the Dr's receptionist make judgey comments about my surname?

[Lovecat]

First of all, my name is not Amanda Fauntleroy-Money-Coutts. Not that it should make a difference, but...

While dialling up my details she read my full name out in a loud voice, looked at me with narrowed eyes and said 'that's a really posh name', said my name again to herself in thoughtful tones that made me think she was picturing me first up against the wall come the revolution, and said 'it's really posh... you must be rich' [WTF?]

Felt like telling her to fuck right off, - WIHBU to do so?

YABVVU. Doctor's receptionists are notoriously free with their comments. Just be thankful she passed comment on your name and not your confidential test results. AT THE TOP OF HER VOICE!

I think the 'You must be rich...' bit was going a wee bit far if not said a bit tongue in cheek, but still not really objectionable, just one of those speaking-out-loud moments. The name sounding posh bit is fine to me, but I guess I am in a big minority here. I just think we get too hung up about money in this country. I'm sure if you are rich and very sensitive about it then you may take it the wrong way. I just don't think it was intended to be rude or a put-down.

RP - I will bear that in mind .

Hang on though... "Calling someone rich or posh (imo) is not, unless she meant it in derogatory manner, which doesn't sound like she did."

but had she had called her poor or common, that would have been derogatory.

I would have gone for the "I don't think it is your place to make idiotic comments about my name, do you?" with a condescending look, coupled with a raised eyebrow for good measure.

Freshmint, off my large family inheritance.

but WHAT HAS IT TO DO WITH THE RECEPTIONIST marigold?

it is nothing whatsoever to do with her

so surprised you think it is acceptable

so a bloke. dad? uncle?

or aunt mildred?

Hang on everyone. Do you think the receptionist meant to be derogatory? (Like saying, that's very ugly name). And if she didn't mean to be, then was she still derogatory in any way?

I think to put the receptionist down for something which was not intended to offend would be VU and quite rude.

What has what to do with the receptionist?

I'm saying the OP would be unreasonable to be rude to her for her (imo, innocent) remark.

Does it matter who I live off? What's male or female got to do with the price of eggs?

well it doesn't sound warm and cuddly the way she describes it, does it? all narrowed eyes and considered tones

I have a posh sounding surname and used to live in a very well-off village. But because I had DD1 very young, we were broke and living in a tiny two up two down. An incredibly snooty health visitor turned up one day, looked me up and down, looked round the house (you could see almost all the downstairs from the sofa) and said to me "well, when I saw your name and address, I wasn't expecting this". I was too gobsmacked to say anything .

Ah ha!
You have objected to me questioning you about your finances

well exactly, it is nothing to do with me or anyone else which bloke funds your lifestyle (lol last bit is a joke)

that's my point. it aint any of my business and nor is it the receptionists business to comment to patients about their real or imaginary financial status

Midnight, I agree that one was definitely out of order.

YABU - She was far too familiar.

Freshmint, I wouldn't mind if you said my surname SOUNDED like I lived off a bloke. Bit of speculation fine. Asking nosy questions different.

If the receptionist had asked, "Are you really rich then? What's your annual income?" then OP could have been a bit more irritated.

that's bad midnight. I had the opposite. I had a gp who visited me for the first time after a home birth and looked around at vast crenellated manor house and said "you do know it is good to give something BACK to the community don't you?"

I gave him both barrels the fucker. I was giving just as bloody much back as her was and more

well "you must be rich" is practically the same as "are you rich" - it is asking for an answer. yes or no?
It is NOT a comment for a receptionist to make!

(I'm now waiting for you to tell me your name is Marigold Hussy hehehe)

In a job like a doctors receptionist it's not for the receptionist to comment on anything.

Just as it'd be unacceptable for her to say anything about how many times a person's been into the practice that week, what they know to be the problem with a person, whether they saw a persons family member at the surgery etc etc.

There was a thread last week with someone feeling uncomfortable with the woman on the till commenting on her buying instant mash, I thought she was BU feeling angry.

Doctors receptionist and checkout staff are two totally different jobs, and therefore have different levels of confidentiality and sensitivity.

YANBU OP, she was being unprofessional.

I don't think it's asking for an answer...just thinking out loud. As someone above said, a bit too familiar, but hardly worthy of rudeness back.

agree zigzag
I think they should be v discreet
unfortunately they often aren't.

Agent zigzag, she was hardly revealing confidential information. I assume the postman knows her surname too!

It doesn't matter what she said, she shouldn't have said anything. How dare she make a comment about anyone's name, bloody cheeky! I'd complain.

Blimey, you guys really like people like mere receptionists to KNOW THEIR PLACE, don't ya?

Some people don't know when not to comment I'm afraid.

I once received a work letter addressed to "Captain Nantwich", which contained the words "I have put "Nantwich" as "Nancy" isn't a name so must have been a typo"

Of course, I am in the habit of completely misspelling my own name (in type and signed obviously)

Marigold- your children are just yummy! But ouch at that bump!!