Calling customer service: what people actually say
Phrases for getting through, explaining the problem, asking for someone in charge and getting it fixed.
Erik cancelled his broadband months ago, but the bills keep coming. After forty minutes in a phone queue he gets through, explains, hits a wall, and asks to speak to someone who can actually fix it.
- 1
Vad kan jag hjälpa dig med?
What can I help you with?
Tip: The preposition goes at the end, just like in English.
- 2
Äntligen!
Finally!
Tip: Said with feeling after a long wait.
- 3
Jag har suttit i kö i fyrtio minuter.
I've been in the queue for forty minutes.
Tip: lit. 'I have sat in queue'; Swedes 'sit' in phone queues.
- 4
Förlåt för väntetiden.
Sorry about the wait.
Tip: What agents say first after a long queue.
- 5
Jag ringer angående min senaste faktura.
I'm calling about my latest invoice.
Tip: A slightly formal word for 'about', perfect on the phone.
- 6
Kan jag få ditt personnummer?
Can I have your ID number?
Tip: lit. 'can I get'; the polite way to ask for something.
- 7
Jag sa upp mitt abonnemang i augusti.
I cancelled my subscription in August.
Tip: Particle verb: terminate a contract. Months are lowercase.
- 8
men jag har fått en ny faktura ändå
but I've got a new invoice anyway
Tip: The last word means anyway or still.
- 9
Låt mig kolla.
Let me check.
Tip: Casual and very common.
- 10
Uppsägningen gick inte igenom.
The cancellation didn't go through.
Tip: Particle verb: go through, be processed.
- 11
Det stämmer inte.
That's not right.
Tip: lit. 'it doesn't tally'; polite way to say something is wrong.
- 12
Jag fick en bekräftelse på mejl.
I got a confirmation by email.
Tip: lit. 'on email'.
- 13
Det kan jag tyvärr inte göra något åt.
Unfortunately there's nothing I can do about that.
Tip: lit. 'that can I unfortunately not do anything at'.
- 14
Jag skulle vilja prata med någon ansvarig.
I'd like to speak to someone in charge.
Tip: lit. 'someone responsible'.
- 15
Jag kan koppla dig vidare till min teamledare.
I can put you through to my team leader.
Tip: The object goes between the verb and its particle.
- 16
Kan jag få ett ärendenummer innan du kopplar?
Can I get a reference number before you transfer me?
Tip: Always ask before the line changes hands.
- 17
Jag skickar det på sms.
I'll send it by text.
Tip: lit. 'on text'.
- 18
Jag har läst igenom ärendet.
I've read through the case.
Tip: The particle means 'through' from start to finish.
- 19
Då slipper jag förklara allt igen.
Then I don't have to explain everything again.
Tip: The verb means to be spared from doing something; no 'to' after it.
- 20
Du har helt rätt.
You're absolutely right.
Tip: lit. 'you have completely right'.
- 21
Det blev fel hos oss.
It went wrong on our side.
Tip: lit. 'it became wrong at us'.
- 22
Vi krediterar fakturan, så du behöver inte betala den.
We'll credit the invoice, so you don't need to pay it.
Tip: Present tense for a promise about the near future.
- 23
Kan du bekräfta det skriftligt?
Can you confirm that in writing?
Tip: Always get a promise like this on paper or email.
- 24
Ring bara och hänvisa till ärendenumret.
Just call and quote the reference number.
Tip: The verb means to refer to.
- 25
Vi ber om ursäkt för krånglet.
We apologise for the hassle.
Tip: lit. 'we ask for excuse'; the noun is a hassle or a mess.
- 26
Det uppskattar jag.
I appreciate that.
Tip: lit. 'that appreciate I'; the object comes first.
- 27
Är det något mer jag kan hjälpa dig med?
Is there anything else I can help you with?
Tip: lit. 'is it something more'.
- 28
Nej, det var allt.
No, that's all.
Tip: Past tense in Swedish: 'that was all'.
- 29
Tack för hjälpen!
Thanks for your help!
Tip: lit. 'thanks for the help'.