Calling customer service: the key words
The words you hear in phone menus and use with customer service in Sweden.
Calling customer service means a phone menu, a queue and then explaining your problem to a stranger. These words follow the call from the first button press to the confirmation email.
- 1
en kundtjänst
customer service
Tip: The number on every website and bill.
- 2
ett samtal
a call
Tip: Also means a conversation.
- 3
ett knappval
a menu option (press a key)
Tip: lit. 'a button choice'; the phone menu asks you to make one.
- 4
fyrkant
the hash key (#)
Tip: lit. 'a square'; an en-word, but menus use it bare: 'press ...'.
- 5
stjärna
the star key (*)
Tip: An en-word, used bare in menus; same word as a star in the sky.
- 6
en telefonkö
a phone queue
Tip: You 'sit' in it in Swedish.
- 7
en väntetid
waiting time
Tip: The menu often tells you the expected one.
- 8
en återuppringning
a callback
Tip: lit. 'a back-ringing-up'; many menus offer one instead of waiting.
- 9
upptaget
busy, engaged (phone line)
Tip: The ett form of the adjective, as in 'it's busy'.
- 10
öppettider
opening hours
Tip: Plural; customer service often closes early on Fridays.
- 11
en kundtjänstmedarbetare
a customer service agent
Tip: lit. 'a customer-service co-worker'.
- 12
en handläggare
a caseworker
Tip: The person handling your matter, especially at authorities.
- 13
en chef
a manager, a boss
Tip: Not a cook; the person in charge.
- 14
ett personnummer
a Swedish ID number
Tip: Date of birth plus four digits; almost every call starts with it.
- 15
ett kundnummer
a customer number
Tip: Printed on your bill.
- 16
ett ärende
a matter, a case
Tip: Your issue as the company files it.
- 17
ett ärendenummer
a reference number (for your case)
Tip: Always write it down.
- 18
ett klagomål
a complaint
Tip: A general complaint about service.
- 19
ett fel
a fault, an error
Tip: Also means wrong, as in the wrong item.
- 20
ett abonnemang
a subscription
Tip: For phones, broadband and streaming.
- 21
en bindningstid
a lock-in period
Tip: lit. 'a binding time'; how long you're tied to a contract.
- 22
en uppsägning
a cancellation (of a contract)
Tip: From the verb for terminating a contract.
- 23
en avgift
a fee, a charge
Tip: Monthly, start-up, reminder: all of these.
- 24
en kreditering
a credit (on a bill)
Tip: When the company takes a wrong charge off.
- 25
en ersättning
compensation
Tip: For days without service, for example.
- 26
en tekniker
a technician
Tip: Same form in the plural.
- 27
en bekräftelse
a confirmation
Tip: Ask for it by email.
- 28
skriftligt
in writing
Tip: An adverb; the safest way to get a promise.
- 29
att koppla vidare
to put through (on the phone)
Tip: lit. 'connect further'.
- 30
att lägga på
to hang up
Tip: lit. 'lay on'; particle verb with stress on the second word.