How to End a Phone Call

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Discover polite ways to terminate a call without offending the listener
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Wondering how you can end a phone call in a polite way? We've got you covered! Whether you're ending a friendly call or a professional one, we'll walk you through everything you need to know below. Let's get started.

Best Ways to End a Phone Call

  • Return to the original point : “Anyway, I’ve gotten us off track, let’s decide on a time to meet.”
  • Summarize the conversation : “It’s been great hearing about your promotion. I’m glad your job is going well.”
  • Make up an excuse : ”My phone battery is getting low so I’d better go.”
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Ending an Informal Call Politely

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  1. Phone calls often drag on because the conversation goes off track. Bring the call back to its original intention to quickly achieve the goal of the conversation so that you can end the call. If the goal of the conversation has already been met, simply say that you’re glad you’ve achieved your objective. For example, “I’m so glad we’ve finally managed to organise a time to play tennis.” [1]
    • For example, if a conversation has gotten off track, you could say “Anyway, I’ve gotten us off track, let’s decide on a time to meet for coffee next week.”
  2. This is particularly useful if the call has diverged from the original point or if it has been a complex conversation. For example, “It’s been great to finally make a plan for our family holiday. To confirm the details, we are all meeting at Grandma’s house on Thursday next week and will be coming back on Saturday.” [2]
    • If you want to summarise a casual conversation that didn’t have an original point, say something like “It’s been really nice hearing about your promotion. I’m really glad that your job is going well.”
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  3. If the person you are talking to is rambling, consider making an excuse to quickly end the call. Try to be honest if possible, as this prevents you from ending up in a web of lies. [3]
    • ”My phone battery is getting low so I’d better go” is a good line to end a call quickly. Another good option is “I’ve got someone coming over shortly so I need to go.”
    • If you have kids, you could say “I better go organise the kids.”
    • Avoid using a long, elaborate excuse, as these tend to sound fake. Stick with a short, simple reason for leaving and then end the call.
  4. This is a polite way to signal that the conversation is coming to an end. Simply mention when you’ll see the person next or say that it’d be great to catch up in-person soon. [4] [5]
    • For example, “It’s been lovely chatting. I’m looking forward to seeing you at softball next week.”
    • If you don’t have an arranged time to see the person next, say something like “It’s been great catching up. Let’s do it again soon.”
  5. This is often used as a social cue to indicate that the call is about to end. Thank the caller for their time and then wish them the best. If they’ve already wished you the best, simply say “Thanks, you too.” [6] [7]
    • For example, try ending a call with “It’s been so nice talking with you. Have a great rest of your day!”
    • If you have been talking about a specific topic during the call, wish them the best with it, if relevant. For example, “So nice to catch up with you. All the best with your wedding planning.”
  6. This is a great line to use as it doesn’t place the blame for the long conversation on the caller. Instead, it infers that you don’t want to hold them up on the phone. This is a good way to quickly end a call. [8]
    • For example, when a natural lull in conversation occurs, say something like “Anyway, I’ll let you go – I don’t want to hold you up any longer” or “I know how busy you are, so I won’t keep chatting.”
    • This is a useful option if you’ve already tried more subtle ways to end the conversation with no success.
    • If they respond saying that you aren’t keeping them from anything, politely say that you need to go.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Closing a Business Call Professionally

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  1. This helps to focus the conversation. Ask the caller if you have addressed their concern and if they have any more questions or queries. If they want further information, simply address the topic and then repeat the same question in order to close the call. [9]
    • Avoid saying “Is that all?”, as this can come across as rude. It is best to ask if they need anymore information or if they require any further help.
    • If the other person is helping you, simply say that you are grateful for their help and end the call.
  2. If you aren’t sure when to end the call, use the lull as an opportunity to do so. This makes the end of the conversation feel nice and natural. This works particularly well after asking if you can help the customer further. Once they say no, wait a few seconds to create a lull and then take the opportunity to bring the call to a close. [10]
    • If possible, avoid interrupting the caller, as this can come across rudely.
  3. If the call has gotten off topic or is no longer serving a useful purpose, utilise a natural lull in conversation to say that you need to go. Try to be as polite and honest as possible, as this comes across more professional than a poor excuse. [11]
    • "I’ve got a meeting in 10 minutes so I better go”, “It was a pleasure talking with you about your feedback. I just noticed that my call queue is starting to stack up, though – is there anything else I can help with before I go?”, or “A client has just arrived that I need to speak with” are all appropriate and polite lines to end a call with.
  4. If necessary, thank the caller for any advice they gave and for any actions they’ve committed to. If you can’t think of anything specific to thank them for, simply tell them that you appreciate the time they’ve taken to talk to you. [12]
    • For example, “Thanks for your time today – I really appreciate it. It’s been really useful hearing about your new customer service system”.
  5. It is best to use this technique after you have wrapped up the call, as it can seem a little rude if you quickly say goodbye mid-conversation. Take the time to say why you need to go, thank them for their time, and then wish them a good day. [13] [14]
    • For example, “Thanks for your time today. Have a wonderful rest of your day. Speak soon.”
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I politely get off the phone with someone?
    Tami Claytor
    Etiquette Coach
    Tami Claytor is an Etiquette Coach, Image Consultant, and the Owner of Always Appropriate Image and Etiquette Consulting in New York, New York. With over 20 years of experience, Tami specializes in teaching etiquette classes to individuals, students, companies, and community organizations. Tami has spent decades studying cultures through her extensive travels across five continents and has created cultural diversity workshops to promote social justice and cross-cultural awareness. She holds a BA in Economics with a concentration in International Relations from Clark University. Tami studied at the Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned her Image Consultant Certification.
    Tami Claytor
    Etiquette Coach
    Expert Answer
    You can say something like, “Oh, I have to go. I have to attend to X, Y, Z. Take good care.” If it's a social call, you could say, “Oh, I look forward to speaking with you again. Please give someone my regard.” For business, you can also say “I look forward to speaking with you again and wish you a wonderful day.”
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      Tips

      • Try to maintain a polite and friendly tone when ending a conversation. This helps the call to end on a positive note.
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      • If you have a limited amount of time to talk, try to mention this at the beginning of the call to warn the person in advance.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-secret-to-keeping-phone-calls-short-and-sweet
      2. ↑ https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-secret-to-keeping-phone-calls-short-and-sweet
      3. ↑ https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-secret-to-keeping-phone-calls-short-and-sweet
      4. ↑ https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/how-to-end-phone-calls-smoothly-politely.html
      5. ↑ Tami Claytor. Etiquette Coach. Expert Interview. 29 September 2020.
      6. ↑ https://www.conversational.com/phone-etiquette-101-ending-a-call-politely/
      7. ↑ Tami Claytor. Etiquette Coach. Expert Interview. 29 September 2020.
      8. ↑ https://www.conversational.com/phone-etiquette-101-ending-a-call-politely/
      9. ↑ https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/how-to-end-phone-calls-smoothly-politely.html
      1. ↑ https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/how-to-end-phone-calls-smoothly-politely.html
      2. ↑ https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/how-to-end-phone-calls-smoothly-politely.html
      3. ↑ https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/how-to-end-phone-calls-smoothly-politely.html
      4. ↑ https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/how-to-end-phone-calls-smoothly-politely.html
      5. ↑ Tami Claytor. Etiquette Coach. Expert Interview. 29 September 2020.

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