AIBU to think FIL is rude on the phone, and to expect civility?

[tearinghairout]

He never says, when he phones, 'Hello, it's X here, how are you?' or even 'Hello' at all. Usually it's something like 'Is the Master there?' said in a fairly friendly way, but immediately I feel at a disadvantage because he hasn't acknowledged me, and he's waiting while I twig who he is, etc.

He & I had a little contretemps over Christmas, he was being a bully twit and things were a bit frosty after, but early yesterday I picked up the phone to hear 'Is he in?' I said that no, he'd had to go to work early. 'When's he back?' So, I said I'd get him to ring as soon as he got in, but of course he was late & I got another irritable 'Is he back yet?' when I picked up the phone.

I find this lack of basic phone etiquette really winds me up. I am SO tempted to say 'Hello! Yes, I'm fine thanks. How are you?' but he will know I'm taking the piss.

I would be very tempted to not say a word after he asks for the "master"

Then bang the phone repeatedly on the counter.

I HATE bad phone manners!!!!

Actually, when he asks "Is the Master there?", just reply "You're speaking to her. Who is this?".

FRECKLE - LOVE IT!!!! I'm going to do that. I must admit that my feminist hackles have always risen at that one anyway, but have always ignored, prob because my mum calls my dad that even though she is definately in charge in their house.

And thanks for the link, Saltire. Looks good. I'm ex-BT so I get a discount too (about 50p)

Those phones with the little display panels are cheap as chips in Woolworths anyway if your one doesn't have it.

It reminds me of that Peter Kay answerphone sketch, "Hello Peter this is your Mother........""

i think we have the same FIL

On another thread, Unquiet Dad reckoned he has the same FIL as me - incredible coincidence, or just a lot of tetchy old gits out there?

Lottie, I don't know that one, what happened?

DH & I used to laugh about this. He's always been like it, but it's just now it's really irritating me. (Getting crotchetty too, I suppose.) I feel my 'long service' to his DS means I deserve better treatment.

Anyway, I remember overhearing DH on the phone once. Went like this:

"Hi Dad. Yes, I'm fine, working hard, you know..."
(pause)
"Yes, she's fine. She got a rose thorn in her paw last week and..." etc.

Yes, I thought he'd asked after me for once, but no - it was the dog, instead of me or the dch!!

Silly man.

From what I can remember of the sketch she says this is your mother and my number is and leaves him a message like that.....

www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayProduct.do?productId=CON-3399&s_cid=con_FURL_ btprivacy
this is what you need to know about caller display.

Lottie, thanks for that. Looks as if it's free, too. Brill.

hello, my name is Mum............and my number is.....

When he asks if your dh is in, why not just say "No." and put the phone down? Fight fire with fire.

Oh the solution to this one is easy peasy

Caller display

It shows who phones - you don't like? then you don't answer

simple

If you were feeling mean, then you could perhaps smile at the irritation at the other end.

Tearinghairout - YA sooooo NBU. His generation would be VERY familiar with the saying "Manners Maketh Man". Wot a numbnut.