Addressing unknown people in business

How to address someone used to be important, now not so much. If I get a ( business ) enquiry I usually reply in the same vein… after a few ‘to and fros’ we bothnevitably end up with ‘ Hi ‘ or just a direct reply with no address,
Some people still hold to polite formality in which case I do the same. I often get a Good Morning / Good Evening from polite elder gents usually. If they continue with the average Dear Sue… I do the same back. It shouldn’t be difficult. I have to say tho that I have rarely been addressed by just my surname!

Yes, Grandmattie, we should be given the courtesy but times are changing and I don't know if parents are teaching their childten formalities. Also, it seems business correspondence could stem from anywhere in the world.

Sounds like an automated email. Possibly dictated using voice recognition software with an automated start.

Don't take it personally......................its just a lazy business practice.

I worked for the head of ITV. He immediately asked me to use his first name. We both turned up at 7 a.m. in the lift wearing navy blue cashmere coats. Mine came from the local market. Heaven knows where he bought his better quality one. Occasionally he would make my coffee and I brought him water. He taught me how to start companies from scratch. Happy memories.

Could it be that, in correspondence with the companies concerned, you have identified yourself surname first, and your surname has then been mistaken for your first name? A lot of business correspondence uses the familiar/first name these days.