Acceptable time to ring in the morning?

Shelflife

My mother got a letter for an appointment with a consultant, date didn't suit so I rang and left a message to call me back.

The following morning I got a call at 8.30am from the secretary returning my call, I felt this was a bit early to be making a call of this nature.

As an aside she seemed very put out that we weren't fitting in with their plans, it was a special clinic I was told and was i sure that it didn't suit.

So is 8.30 in the morning acceptable or should they have waited until after 9, personally Id never ring someone at 8.30 id wait until after 9.

SCOOP 64

Id be grateful to get a call anytime knowing how busy they are.

jester77

Shelflife wrote: »

My mother got a letter for an appointment with a consultant, date didn't suit so I rang and left a message to call me back.

The following morning I got a call at 8.30am from the secretary returning my call, I felt this was a bit early to be making a call of this nature.

As an aside she seemed very put out that we weren't fitting in with their plans, it was a special clinic I was told and was i sure that it didn't suit.

So is 8.30 in the morning acceptable or should they have waited until after 9, personally Id never ring someone at 8.30 id wait until after 9.

Most places start at 8am, so any time from then onwards is acceptable imo.

giveitholly

Shelflife wrote: »

My mother got a letter for an appointment with a consultant, date didn't suit so I rang and left a message to call me back.

The following morning I got a call at 8.30am from the secretary returning my call, I felt this was a bit early to be making a call of this nature.

As an aside she seemed very put out that we weren't fitting in with their plans, it was a special clinic I was told and was i sure that it didn't suit.

So is 8.30 in the morning acceptable or should they have waited until after 9, personally Id never ring someone at 8.30 id wait until after 9.

8.30 is fine,what difference is half an hour?

Franz Von Peppercorn

8:30 would suit me as I’m not at work.

vkus6mt3y8zg2q

Hope you get all the help you need to get over the trauma of this as soon as possible.

Mrcaramelchoc

If it was an important consultation you really have no right to complain as lots of people could be waiting for appointment s and that secretary needs to get to them all.its not just you in that lives on this planet.

looksee

God is a consultant, and his secretary is an arch-angel (who is very conscious of her relationship with god). In both cases they can do as they wish before granting you the privilege of paying them €200.

Ten of Swords

Shelflife wrote: »

My mother got a letter for an appointment with a consultant, date didn't suit so I rang and left a message to call me back after 9am.

Fixed that for you op, I'm sure you specifically told them not to call back too early... right?

Samuel T. Cogley

looksee wrote: »

God is a consultant, and his secretary is an arch-angel (who is very conscious of her relationship with god). In both cases they can do as they wish before granting you the privilege of paying them €200.

Which cheap-ass consultant are you seeing?

mdwexford

You are correct.

Calls before 9am are the work of barbarians.

Shelflife

Mrcaramelchoc wrote: »

If it was an important consultation you really have no right to complain as lots of people could be waiting for appointment s and that secretary needs to get to them all.its not just you in that lives on this planet.

Appointment was for 5 weeks time and I rang the day I got it to let them know it didnt suit.

rgodard80a

Shelflife wrote: »

So is 8.30 in the morning acceptable or should they have waited until after 9, personally Id never ring someone at 8.30 id wait until after 9.

For any health issue I'd be glad of a prompt response.
It's not even your health issue, it's your mothers, so are you really complaining that you won't even take a phone call to help your own mother?

Maybe you should just turn off your phone until 9am each day.

Mrcaramelchoc

Shelflife wrote: »

Appointment was for 5 weeks time and I rang the day I got it to let them know it didnt suit.

Turn off your phone until 9am then.

Del2005

I'd ring a mobile phone at any time of the day or night, you can turn them off or set up blocks. A land line I would not ring between 9pm and 8am unless for an emergency.

Dial Hard

mdwexford wrote:

Calls before 9am are the work of barbarians.

Cue Nox001 arriving to say anything before 12 noon is the middle of the night and anyone who gets up before 10am is clearly some kind of deranged sado-masochist.

Charles Ingles

You should get her sacked, calling you at such an ungodly hour

Shelflife

rgodard80a wrote: »

For any health issue I'd be glad of a prompt response.
It's not even your health issue, it's your mothers, so are you really complaining that you won't even take a phone call to help your own mother?

Maybe you should just turn off your phone until 9am each day.

Not sure where you arrived at that conclusion, I never complained about the call I merely expressed suprise that they called before 9am, It wasnt an emergency health issue but simply arranging an appointment for 5 weeks time.

As I said I personally wouldnt ring before 9am unless it was an urgent matter.

Dial Hard

Shelflife wrote:

As I said I personally wouldnt ring before 9am unless it was an urgent matter.

Why?

Charles Ingles

Why would you answer a cell so early,
Obviously only a maniac would call at 8.30 in the morning

Shelflife

Dial Hard wrote: »

Why?

I suppose its just to do with the traditional office hours of 9-5. Before 9 you were on your own time and after that it was time for work.

Sardonicat

Dial Hard wrote: »

Shelflife wrote:

As I said I personally wouldnt ring before 9am unless it was an urgent matter.

Why?

Because before 9 am it's safe to assume that people are busy getting themselves and kids ready and travelling to school/work.

Perhaps she was trying to catch you before you started work OP? Agree it was rude to call before 9 for that issue.

The Tetrarch

Anyone else click into this thread thinking the call was at 3 am?

JeffKenna

Is it the case you were still in bed?

Dial Hard

Shelflife wrote:

I suppose its just to do with the traditional office hours of 9-5. Before 9 you were on your own time and after that it was time for work.

Sardonicat wrote:

Agree it was rude to call before 9 for that issue.

I wasn't aware individuals operated on business hours too.

I honestly can't see the issue here.

Sardonicat

Dial Hard wrote: »

Shelflife wrote:

I suppose its just to do with the traditional office hours of 9-5. Before 9 you were on your own time and after that it was time for work.

Sardonicat wrote:

Agree it was rude to call before 9 for that issue.

I wasn't aware individuals operated on business hours too.

I honestly can't see the issue here.

If you were shepherding 2 or 3 small kids into a car trying to get them to school and yourself to work you might.
Most people are on a tight morning schedule and haven't got the time to spare in the morning.

JeffKenna

Sardonicat wrote: »

If you were shepherding 2 or 3 small kids into a car trying to get them to school and yourself to work you might.
Most people are on a tight morning schedule and haven't got the time to spare in the morning.

Ask will they ring you back in a minute... Most people are in work at 9am.

Dial Hard

Sardonicat wrote:

If you were shepherding 2 or 3 small kids into a car trying to get them to school and yourself to work you might. Most people are on a tight morning schedule and haven't got the time to spare in the morning.

So just don't answer. That's what voicemail is for.

Plenty of people can't take personal calls during business hours and would welcome a business ringing them slightly out of hours.

Just seems like a bit of a mountain out of a molehill, tbh. It's not like they were ringing you at 3am.

Sardonicat

JeffKenna wrote: »

Sardonicat wrote: »

If you were shepherding 2 or 3 small kids into a car trying to get them to school and yourself to work you might.
Most people are on a tight morning schedule and haven't got the time to spare in the morning.

Ask will they ring you back in a minute... Most people are in work at 9am.

Most people are trying to get to work before 9. Pointless calling before then. And bad manners.

JeffKenna

Sardonicat wrote: »

Most people are trying to get to work before 9. Pointless calling before then. And bad manners.

And its grand to take a call in work?

dartboardio

8.30 is fine?..

I work in a call centre and we open at 8am. Inbound and outbound calls being made.

Dont answer if its not suitable i guess

You need to make it clear in your voicemail that they are only to call you after 9pm if that is your wish. Other then that you have no right to complain as you didnt state a time.

Sardonicat

Dial Hard wrote: »

Sardonicat wrote:

If you were shepherding 2 or 3 small kids into a car trying to get them to school and yourself to work you might. Most people are on a tight morning schedule and haven't got the time to spare in the morning.

So just don't answer. That's what voicemail is for.

Plenty of people can't take personal calls during business hours and would welcome a business ringing them slightly out of hours.

Just seems like a bit of a mountain out of a molehill, tbh. It's not like they were ringing you at 3am.

They weren't ringing me.

I would have requested they call me back at a given time and hung up. Personally, if I receive a call early in the day I will answer because I assume it's urgent.

fin12

I worked in Social welfare before and we were told not to call anyone till after 10am.

Sardonicat

dartboardio wrote: »

8.30 is fine?..

I work in a call centre and we open at 8am. Inbound and outbound calls being made.

Dont answer if its not suitable i guess

Really ? I've worked in a call centre and we were inbound only til 9am.

JeffKenna

fin12 wrote: »

I worked in Social welfare before and we were told not to call anyone till after 10am.

I think we know what's going on with the OP now...

EmmetSpiceland

Most people are either in work or on their way at 8:30am, I don’t see any issue with someone calling at that time.

Not on a weekend though.

The Talking Bread

Shelflife wrote: »

I suppose its just to do with the traditional office hours of 9-5. Before 9 you were on your own time and after that it was time for work.

Maybe the logic is that they are trying to catch you when you aren't in work............... I mean does your work time involve answering private phone calls ............. You are very much contradicting yourself!

Charles Ingles

fin12 wrote: »

I worked in Social welfare before and we were told not to call anyone till after 10am.

That's early for someone unemployed who would be up before 10 on the dole

Mrs OBumble

JeffKenna wrote: »

Ask will they ring you back in a minute... Most people are in work at 9am.

And therefore unable to take calls because they are ... working!

Charles Ingles

Joe Duffy only man to sort this out

Sardonicat

dartboardio wrote: »

8.30 is fine?..

I work in a call centre and we open at 8am. Inbound and outbound calls being made.

Dont answer if its not suitable i guess

You need to make it clear in your voicemail that they are only to call you after 9pm if that is your wish. Other then that you have no right to complain as you didnt state a time.

So it's OK to ignore the time of day if a person doesn't state it on voicemail? Is that what they're saying in their training in your call centre?
I don't use voicemail as I've a very sick family member so don't want to miss any urgent calls. That's not a green light for businesses to call me outside of business hours.

iamwhoiam

My god some people have little to complain about . Seriously OP what on earth is wrong with 8:30 ? Just be thankful you got an appointment

Sardonicat

fin12 wrote: »

I worked in Social welfare before and we were told not to call anyone till after 10am.

Do they open before 10 am?

Sleeper12

Shelflife wrote:

So is 8.30 in the morning acceptable or should they have waited until after 9, personally Id never ring someone at 8.30 id wait until after 9.

I get calls from 7am right up to 11pm (sometimes even later) on a regular basis from clients. I put my phone on private mode from 7pm to 8:15am. On private mode my phone only rings if its family or friends.

If I get a missed call from someone late at night I deliberately return their call as early as possible.

I don't think 8:30am is too early. I do realise that some elderly people sleep later on in the mornings but even if I rang at 9am some elderly people don't get up till 10am.

Sleeper12

Charles Ingles wrote:

Joe Duffy only man to sort this out

Just don't phone him at 8:30am though

TheBeach

I start work at 8 but wait till after 9 to phone people.

The Talking Bread

TheBeach wrote: »

I start work at 8 but wait till after 9 to phone people.

There isn't a set rule? There are tens of thousands of different jobs requiring different objectives.

without getting into specifics.......... what job are you in that you would find it unnecesary to call until after 9.

wandererz

Options:
Switch phone off until 9am.
Direct calls to voicemail until 9am - with specific instructions to text, email or WhatsApp you if urgent.

Direct calls to voicemail until 9am - with specific instructions to feck off until 9am.

Make a GDPR request for all information they hold about you or your mother to see if you specifically agreed to calls at certain hours only.

Check their website or their building for opening times.

Pkiernan

fin12 wrote: »

I worked in Social welfare before and we were told not to call anyone till after 10am.

I thought you were only allowed to call when the Jeremy Kyle Show was on ad breaks.

wandererz

OP, You need to be more annoying assertive when you deal with people or businesses and make it clear from the start what your terms and conditions are.

Make sure you specify an acceptable end time for calls as well. Is it 5pm or 5.30pm?

Out of curiosity, are you in the 50+ age range? That would put your mom in the 70+ range (pre 1950's). Perhaps get a bus back to the last century - but only after 9am of course. Lodge a complaint with the time bureau if the timetable does not include suitable times.

Shelflife

iamwhoiam wrote: »

My god some people have little to complain about . Seriously OP what on earth is wrong with 8:30 ? Just be thankful you got an appointment

I wasn’t complaining , merely curious, why should I be thankful for giving someone my business ?