Work · A phone call to your client's office
How to move a client call to another time in English
Moving a client call can feel awkward when something unavoidable comes up. This guide gives you natural phrases to explain the change, suggest a new time and keep things professional.
The situation
What happened
- You've got a video call with a client at 3 pm today.
- Your dentist has just moved your appointment to 3 pm, and you can't change it.
- You ring the client's assistant.
Your goal
Move the call to tomorrow morning.
What to say
8 lines, in the order you'd need them
Say each line out loud from its hint, then tap to check.
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1 · Open
A clear way to introduce the reason for calling
“Hi, I'm calling about our video call this afternoon.”
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2 · Explain
Briefly explains the unavoidable clash
“My dentist's just moved my appointment to three, and I can't change it.”
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3 · Ask
A polite, direct request
“Could we move our call to tomorrow morning?”
Suggests a clear alternative
“Would ten o'clock suit you?”
Invites them to choose a suitable time
“Could you let me know what works best?”
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4 · Push back
Gently confirms the original time won't work
“I'm afraid three won't work for me now.”
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5 · Meet halfway
Offers another morning option
“If ten's no good, I could do half past eleven.”
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6 · Wrap up
Ends the call warmly
“Thanks for helping me rearrange it.”
Say it like a local
Drop the stiff version
Learners sayI wish to change the hour of our videoconference.
Locals sayCould we move our video call to tomorrow morning?
“Move our video call” is the natural everyday phrase.
Listen in
The same kind of moment, smaller
The highlighted phrases are the ones worth stealing.
Sophie · client's assistantis waiting for youNow say it out loud
Sophie answers what you actually say, and the mood shifts with every line. Get what you came for, then hear how a local would have said each of yours.
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