Ball, however, denies that customer-service people cannot call customers when they lose a connection.

Telephone sales representatives call customers at night to tout new options.

And one of his first instincts was to call customers.

Unions have turned professional, serving their members' interests in the way that members, or perhaps I should call them customers, demand.

"I had them bring me a phone to my hospital bed so I could begin calling customers," he said.

I often pick up the phone and call customers.

At that time, he said, the company began the policy of calling customers and asking them to pick up their package outside.

Ms. Zahn will agree to call regular customers when an item appropriate for them comes in, she said.

Training procedures now stress the importance of calling customers by name, knowing the banks' services and being courteous.

Dealers will also be calling customers to make sure all have been notified, he said.