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Ring Ring:
An encounter with Indonesian telephone etiquette

Good morning, this is Bank X.

GOOD MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO MR. EDDY.

Mr.Eddy? Do you have an account with our bank?

NO, I DON’T.

Oh, then you must have dialed the wrong number.

BUT THIS IS BANK X, RIGHT?

Yes, that’s right.
OH, OK. THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO MR. EDDY.
Mr. Eddy? ... our office doesn't’t have a Mr. Eddy.
YESTERDAY I DIALLED THIS NUMBER AND SPOKE TO MR. EDDY. I WOULD LIKE TO DO THE SAME TODAY.
Which department?
I DON’T KNOW.
What is it regarding?
WELL, I EXPLAINED THAT TO MR. EDDY YESTERDAY. IT’S REGARDING MY FRIEND’S LOST CREDIT CARD, FRIEND Y. BUT IT’S QUITE A STORY SO IF I HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT ALL AGAIN .....

Yes, well .... we have someone called Adi and someone else called Hadi here.

OK, THEN MAYBE I GOT THE WRONG NAME, CAN YOU PUT ME THROUGH TO MR. ADI THEN PLEASE?

ring ring

Hello.

HELLO, IS THIS MR. ADI?

Yes, speaking.

MY NAME IS GABY AND I’M CALLING REGARDING MY FRIEND Y’S LOST CREDIT CARD. HAVE I SPOKEN TO YOU ABOUT THIS TWO DAYS AGO?

A lost credit card, you say? What is your account number with our bank?

NO, IT’S NOT ABOUT MY OWN CREDIT CARD. HAVE I SPOKEN TO YOU TWO DAYS AGO?

Excuse me?

HAVE I SPOKEN TO YOU TWO DAYS AGO ABOUT MY FRIEND Y’S LOST CREDIT CARD?

About what?

ABOUT FRIEND Y’S LOST CREDIT CARD.

Can you give me friend Y’s account number?

SO I HAVEN’T SPOKEN TO YOU THEN?

Excuse me?

DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY CALLED MR. EDDY, HE’S SUPPOSED TO WORK AT YOUR OFFICE?

Mr. Eddy? No, we don’t have any Mr. Eddy here.

THEN CAN YOU PLEASE PUT ME THROUGH TO MR. HADI?

Mr. Hadi? Just a moment.

ring ring

Hello.

GOOD MORNING, IS THIS MR. HADI?

No, this is Mr. Tony. Can I help you?

YOU CAN HELP ME BY PUTTING ME THROUGH TO MR. HADI.

May Iask what it is regarding?

I WAS ACTUALLY HOPING MR. HADI WOULD KNOW WHAT IT IS REGARDING.

Wait a moment.

ring ring

Hello.

GOOD MORNING, AM I SPEAKING TO MR. HADI?

Yes, speaking.

GREAT, MY NAME IS GABY AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU IF I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU TWO DAYS AGO REGARDING MY FRIEND Y’S LOST CREDIT CARD?

What do you mean?

I MEAN THAT I SPOKE TO SOMEONE ABOUT MY FRIEND Y’S LOST CREDIT CARD TWO DAYS AGO AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT WAS YOU I SPOKE TO?

Friend who?

MR. HADI, I HAVE SPOKEN TO MORE THAN HALF THE STAFF IN YOUR OFFICE NOW AND ALL I WANT IS SPEAK TO MR. EDDY .....

Mr. Eddy, you want to speak to Mr. Eddy

YES, DO YOU HAVE ONE ON OFFER?

Just a moment, I’ll put you through.

ring ring

Hello.

GOOD MORNING, WHO’S SPEAKING?

This is Farid, can I help you?

I’D LIKE TO SPEAK TO MR. EDDY ... IS HE AROUND BY ANY CHANCE?

Who can I say is calling?

GABY.

Mrs. Debby, just a mo .....

NO, NOT DEBBY, GABY.

Ok, Mrs. Debby, I’ll put you through.

ring ring

Hello.

HELLO TO YOU TOO, WHO’S SPEAKING PLEASE?

Mr. Eddy speaking here, what can I do for you?

MR. EDDY, ARE YOU SERIOUS. THAT’S JUST GREAT. THIS IS GABY SPEAKING

Right, you are calling about friend Y’s lost credit card.

FINALLY!! ................THE THING IS, I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN AN HOUR ON THE PHONE NOW AND HAVE TO LEAVE FOR WORK. BUT I’LL CALL YOU LATER AS NOW I KNOW THE TRAIL I NEED TO FOLLOW TO GET TO SPEAK TO YOU. I’LL TALK TO YOU LATER. BYE NOW.

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