How to Call a Stranger on the Phone

Co-authored by Tami Claytor

Last Updated: August 30, 2024

A lot of times you have to call someone on the phone that you've never met in real life. When you do, it can be scary or awkward. Here's how to make it less so.

Steps

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Come up with a clear plan in your head for what order you want to address things in. If you have a certain reason for calling, decide the best way to explain it.
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It's best to use their contact in the phone, because that way you're more likely not to get the number wrong.

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Even though you haven't met them, you probably have an image in your mind of them, and when they answer it will be easier to talk if you can picture them talking.
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Once they have, take a deep breath and say hi back. Even if you want the conversation to be quick, don't be rude.
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Ex. "Hi, I'm Sara, your friend Hannah's niece." Give them a chance to think about this and acknowledge that they know you.
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Instead of saying, "We're having a party," say, "Hannah's having a party at her house tomorrow at 7, and she's wondering if you could come?"
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You may start to be uncomfortable by their silence, but they could be trying to remember Hannah or deciding how to answer a stranger without sounding weird.
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If you don't, ask them to explain.
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You may want to say something like, "Mom told me you had a clam," but they might not know how to answer you, and they'll probably start wondering how much more you know about them.
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Be proud of yourself for calling a stranger!

Community Q&A

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Question

I met a stranger on the train, and want to find out his phone number. I don't know any details about him, how can I get his number?

John Wren

Community Answer

If you don't know anything about him, you likely won't be able to find a phone number. Search engines can sometimes locate people with a description of where they work, go to school, or live. Next time when you meet the person, engage in conversation. Of course, the easiest way is to just ask for the number and explain why you would like to have it. You can say, "I've really enjoyed meeting you. I'd like to continue the conversation, may I have your phone number so I can call you later?".

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Tips

If you start to stammer or panic, take a deep breath. If you're still not calming down, ask a simple, casual question, and let them answer while you sit down and calm down.

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Make the call quick, but not sharp. Don't go too fast, or it may come across as rude.

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Warnings

Don't try to sound different. If you've met them occasionally a couple years ago, don't try to mess with them by sounding older or weird. It's mean, and they'll resent you for it.

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If you treat them too familiar, they might freak out or wonder if they've met you before and you think they're being rude.

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