Avoid Saying Hello

But . . . but . . . but . . . if they do that, what excuse can the caller have to say "Is this the bookkeeping department?" so the audience knows who they're calling off-screen? (I've seen that in movies from the 1920s to mid-2010s, and it always rankles.)

I remember, when I was young, back in the 1980s, I always answered the home phone with, "Yates Residence, May I help you?" Because it was all sounding professional, and my voice had matured at a pretty young age, most people calling couldn't tell that they were talking to someone under 10 years old. Most of them thought they were talking to my mother, which was quite humorous at times.

I have to say, I agree. It doesn't give confidence when you call up what you think is a serious company, wanting to speak to someone who can help you, only to be greeted with an uninformative and uninterested "'ullo...?".