I really hate to be that person. Discrimination?

[Theredfoxfliesatmidnight]

I really hate to be the person drawing attention to this; for the record I believe men and women are equal, and I believe almost all UK employers believe this too. I may be wrong, I don't know, and am happy to be corrected by anyone with professional or first hand knowledge of this situation.

I, a female, recently went for a job in a traditionally male environment. The people on the shop floor that I interviewed with were very nice and very open; they made a point of not discriminating against females, which proved correct as they hired me, a woman amongst many males.

I was offered the job and accepted. I was very happy. I provided my British passport (I was born in the UK and have always lived here) and a NI letter giving my full National Insurance details.

Because I was married and divorced 25 years ago my HMRC NI letter is in my married surname. It gives exactly the same identity details; ie same address, same first name and middle name. Just married surname. These are the detais HMRC hold for me. I don't have HMRC letters in my maiden name as I changed it in 1999.

My UK passport gives my maiden name plus of course all other passport details including date and place of birth.

Despite these being true and accurate UK documents this place of work (a famous large UK business) will not accept them. I have to send in my marriage certificate (from 1999 ) to prove I am who I say I am. Annoying; but I get this, sort of. Apart from the fact I was divorced over 20 years ago. So now I have to get this (because I don't have this document ) and send it to them, never mind that I've never had to do this before for any other job, or to get UC which I do claim, or for banking, or to get in out of the country, or for anything else. I am 46.

But this is not enough. Now I have to send my birth certificate (a UK birth cert. They already have my passport showing these details). Plus something from HMRC with my maiden name on (which I don't have; all documents are in my married name from when I got married in 1999) No start date can be given until I provide these documents at my own expense.

I have said I have bank documents, bank cards, and Universal Credit documents all showing Maiden Name as claimant and Married Name as payee. I am a British citizen, always have been since birth and this fact is not in dispute. The offer of these documents has been refused as evidence.

I am irritated because I have provided a legitimate, genuine UK passport. And a legitimate, genuine, NI letter from HMRC with my birth date, address and name on it. This more than fulfils the Evidence to Work documentation they need. But now I have to pay to get my marriage certificate (£12.99 at my own expense) and a copy of my UK birth certificate) before I can even get a start date. I was meant to start on Monday but because they've now come up with this I have no determined start date.Is this fair? I feel that married men wouldn't have to provide their UK birth certificate if they have already provided a UK passsport .

Am I right to be pissed or is this standard procedure?

Why on Earth did you change your name? I can't understand why some women still do this!

Thank you, I agree. I don't think its as simple as women getting married once, and providing a marriage cert. Children sometimes take step parents names. Women sometimes get married more than once. Women sometimes have "career" names seperate to family names. Former prisoners, trans people. This is a difficulty for all but fully societally conforming males.

I have been offered more than this one job so I will most likely just take something else from a more educated employer. But it's a shame, as I wanted the job I got. And it's a shame for them, as I would have been good at the role, but their employment process is so male centric they can't even see it.

I would never challenge this. It's just life. A pity though.

I was born Gemini Laughs but changed by deed poll to Gemini Giggles - everytime I apply for a job I have to provide birth certificate (laughs), ni insurance letter (giggles), p45 (giggles) and deed poll certificate (to prove I am both laughs and giggles, i should have used 💩 🤣).

It's the name change not the marriage. Frustrating I know but that is the price we pay for a name change.

If your ID (passport) doesn't match your name then I think you would have been better not providing it at all. I bet they would've accepted another form of ID along with your HMRC letter.

Well your "law firm" is kind of ridiculous then, if it doesn't recognise that women can go by more than 1 surname, legally. Yes of course I've earned money since 1999. This is kind of my point.

I think I should have just not provided an HMRC letter and let them work it out! That's good advice, thank you and have a nice evening x

Would the simpler thing not be to change your name with HMRC so everything aligns- assuming this is doable.

It doesn't matter what job you take, you'll still need to prove your identity using official documents. Which you can't do easily if the names don't match.

Different names on different documents. Why did you not see to this discrepancy before now. And you have had no dealings with tax or insurance since 1999. Not surprised they need more verification documents.,

Are you from another ethnic group ?

Also I think the fines are very high - nearly £50k possibly - for employing an illegal worker so the corporate lawyers I expect have a part in all this .

My friend a male had this issue as he was adopted aged 6 weeks. An adoption certificate supersedes everything but because the fines are so high the employer wanted his original birth certificate. He refused and lost his job.

I have had top government security clearance twice and not had to provide this amount of ID!

Why haven’t you updated your name with HMRC though?

That’s awful! I think care experience should be a protected characteristic under the Equality Act. There are loads of places in both public and commercial services where people are forced to disclose or treated less than, because they changed names owing to adoption.

No, you are wrong.

You can give either a passport on its own

or

a birth certificate which must be accompanied by a letter showing your NI number.

So you’ve knowingly chosen to hold a current passport in one name and a current tax record in another name. That’s entirely your prerogative but it’s perfectly foreseeable that you’d run into this kind of problem. I think most people make sure all their current records match when they change their name through marriage, divorce or deed poll.

Personally, I’d have either informed HMRC of my name change or updated my passport. Either would have been simple to do.

Seems you've simply not notified HMRC of your divorce and change of name then surely. Forgive me if I'm incorrect. Basically if you want the job, just get the information they need. Is your P45 up yo date.

HMRC need to be notified about any name change. This should have been done years ago obvs. You don’t have a leg to stand on to be cross, sorry…if anything, you’ve been lucky you’ve got away with using your old name for so long!

I'd be questioning why they need a HMRC letter to start with. Don't you just give them a P45 or if you didn't work last tax year it used to be a P46 but is something else now.

"got away with" - what rubbish! A woman is allowed to use both her maiden name and her ex husband's surname. She doesn't need permission, nor is it illegal to use both.

But using two can cause issues, you can’t be surprised when this happens.

But the point is OP that you are the person with the name on your passport (your maiden name) but you have provided evidence of an NI number ostensibly for a different person (your married name). That could be considered a red flag for money laundering/fraud/slavery/illegal immigration.

Why can't you see that you need to provide some evidence of the name change?
It's got nothing to do with the fact that you are female. If a male had changed his name by deed poll, he would be expected to produce evidence to confirm he is who he says he is.

I am surprised they have not asked for a copy of your decree absolute too to evidence that you are no longer 'married name'. I know it's something we had to do for ID&V purposes when I used to have a job😂

I wasn't disputing that, and I'm well aware as I use two surnames and encounter issues myself. I was simply referring to that commenter making out like the OP has done something wrong!

I guess it’s arguable it’s indirectly discriminatory to women but will be justifiable due to the aim of ensuring illegal working is prevented.

Apologies - I assumed that HMRC would require to be notified if your passport name changes?
I am also someone that uses both my maiden and married names for various things , but it would never occur to me that legally HMRC do not require notification.
so, legally, can we interchange maiden and married names for banking, jobs, taxes etc..?