Have you noticed this? If so, does it bother you?

[3timesoccermom]

Lately, places where I go with some regularity, for example, very recently, the eye doctor and the dentist's office, have started calling me by my first name when addressing me instead of Mrs. Diddlysquat. I don't appreciate this!! I never once asked them to do this and think maybe they feel permission was granted because I am a long-time customer or maybe because when I call, I say "hi, this is Renee Diddlysquat . . ." and commence with my conversation.

In a professional capacity or with someone I don't know well I call them Mr. or Mrs. (or Dr.) Doe unless they request I call them something else. If that does not occur I continue to address them with the title first.

How do you feel about this? Am I just a bone-head about it?

[dliver316]

If you are talking about when they call you back, I think it has to do with HIPPA. Most places dont call you by your last name so as not to violate HIPPA. At least, I think.

If it is on the phone, I have no idea...

[amylynne01]

I actually prefer to be called by my first name and not Mrs. Lastname. Mrs. Lastname was my MIL, and I feel way too young to be Mrs. (I'm 28). I also get a lot of mispronunciation of my last name, so my first name is safe.

I used to work in a hospital collecting patients' demo and insurance info. I always called patients by their first name because you simply don't know if they're a Mrs., a Ms., a Mr. a Dr. a whatever. A first name is the safest route to not offend the most people.

[3timesoccermom]

It's on the phone and in the offices.

If you are talking about when they call you back, I think it has to do with HIPPA. Most places dont call you by your last name so as not to violate HIPPA. At least, I think.

If it is on the phone, I have no idea...

[cheapdate29]

I also prefer being called by my first name and not using my last name in a doctor's office does insure some privacy. It's just a sign of the times, living in a less formal society.

However, the south still retains some of the old formalities like "sir" and "ma'am" so maybe this is why you prefer to be called by your last name.

[amylynne01]

Yeah, I agree that using first names only is more private that being called Mrs. Lastname.

Who is speaking to you, Renee? Is it a young person (like 20-30), middle aged (40-50), or older (60+)? If it were a younger person speaking, then using first names is much more common than if a older person were speaking to you at the eye doctor or dentist.

[Jen1]

I'd have to agree that I'd prefer to be called by my first name - my last name is also difficult to pronounce. Also it's a PIMA when I have to verify if they pronounced last name correct or not - they said did I pronounce it right? Noooo. They never do.

Being a long standing customer of the office, they should know my name anyway and who I am and just come get me if the waiting room is filled with people.

[CW&M Mom]

I never mind if the actual doctor calls me by my first name. In fact when my son's pulm called me at home with some info and called my by my first name I about cried.

[sns4063]

I don't care if people use my first name, that's what it's there for! I agree with a PP, sometimes you don't know if it's a Mr, Ms, Mrs, Dr, etc. When I worked at our public library and had to call people at their homes, I'd always use their full names to leave messages. The reason why is because I screwed up once-in person! A lady came in with a child, and the child needed to renew their library card. The adult who had signed for the card had a masculine name. I told the lady that the dad had signed for the card, so he would need to be there to update it. Ummm yeah, I was super embarrassed when it turned out that mom had a masculine name.
Obviously I wasn't the first person who had ever made assumptions about the name and she was nice about it, but gosh, I felt terrible!

I also do like being called by my first name at the mechanic's. It's not like I go in often, but to be remembered by name without prompting is nice.

[shelleyf]

It doesn't bother me, in fact I prefer it. Usually I am asked first though. I feel younger that way then being called Ma'am, or by my last name. When I have grandkids they are hopefully going to call me Gmama, lol instead of Grandmama or Grandma, or Mawmaw.