Is it acceptable to call someone hun or doll.

[florida girl]

So I just got a phone call from our mortgage insurance company about our yearly review ,the female I spoke to was friendly but constantly called me hun and doll. Now call be old fashioned but I really don’t think this is the correct way to address customers .

[clochette]

I must be old fashioned too because I don't think that is acceptable in a business context. In fact I don't like it in any context, but each to their own.

[Smilesonfaces]

Originally Posted by florida girl

So I just got a phone call from our mortgage insurance company about our yearly review ,the female I spoke to was friendly but constantly called me hun and doll. Now call be old fashioned but I really don’t think this is the correct way to address customers .

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Definitely not. I wouldn’t think it was acceptable for my best friend to call me hun or doll never mind a professional in a business call.

[Sandra & co]

It’s not very professional is it? I can’t stand being called huni, hun, honey, anyway so I probably would of told them off! Being from London I do say love but mostly to my kids and dh and certainly not to strangers!

[bonnies mum]

Very unprofessional.

[Omega1]

No it’s not!

[EssexSue]

I say Hun and sometimes even Babe but not to strangers in the phone!

[Kd0758]

I don’t mind it. I find it quite sweet.

I hate being called Mrs ... though, it really annoys me!

[Guest]

I think it crosses the “friendly but not familiar” line for customer service in a business context.

This could be the start of another “local sayings” thread 😁

[weeleighluigi]

Im on the fence, in a professional manner from whom you got the call, no, not really.

I am one of those who calls my children "sweet pea" "sweetie pie" or even "pants" as a family joke, my youngest strips to her pants as soon as she is home every time we get home (poss autistic) but it's a pet name.

I work in a high school and there is a teacher who calls the kids "petal" which none of them seem to mind, I sometimes let the occasional "pet" or even "sweet pea" escape too when I forget where I am, but I am a sweet person by nature and the students would not see it as out of character for me.
As for adults, I sometimes say "my lovely" but only to those I know.


As a standard, terms of familiarity as I suppose that's what they are, I do not use with strangers.