To have thought I could use either name

[sickandtiredofsick]

I’m married but I thought I could use either my married or maiden name ?
I didn’t realise I had to use one or the other and now apparently my contents insurance isn’t valid ? I had no idea I thought it was fine to use either and had take then policy out about 4 years before getting married
Feel so stupid now

" And also discrimination as getting married wouldn't null an insurance policy for a man."

It would if the T&Cs stated that personal information has to be kept upto date. They can set their own T&Cs such as Category 1 identification (passport /DL) needs to be supplied matching the name on the policy.

Getting married is a change in circumstances as is obviously someone else coming to live with you.

There was a case a bit like this on Judge Judy. A woman was being sued because of a car accident. The woman was happy to accept the blame (it was a genuine accident) but believed her insurance company should have covered the damage. The insurance company wouldn't because of some issue over the policy originally being in her maiden name yet they had quite happily taken payments for years from her under her married name. Judge Judy is normally quite strict with if you cause an accident you pay up - but she was really shocked and angry with the insurance company. She had a right go at them (and they paid up!).
Judge Judy is American though so you might need to use our Brit version Judge Rinder. He is awesome.

marriage cert is just an alternative proof of a name change if you want to do it, instead of going through deed poll.

do nothing (I didn't, what a load of pointless wifework admin) and your name doesn't change.

using two names does seem to be making more work.

My DC's UK birth certificates have both my married and maiden name on them so the government is ok with me having 2 names...

Being married can actually reduce the cost of your premiums so if their policy is that you have to tell them you are married and change your name, perhaps they might like to backdate a refund?
www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/married-car-insurance-cheaper-apply-questions-which-compare-insurance-prices-a9093806.html

I can see why you might be required to tell them if you use both names to prevent fraud. Otherwise you could have one policy in each name and they would not be able to cross reference them to see if you had claimed. Or you could use the same no claims bonus twice. Perhaps the advisor misinterpreted the T&Cs. They can't insist you use your married name though.

That said, I bought a new car that came with a year's free insurance that covered the owner and their spouse. There was no way that their computer system would accept that I could be married and have a different name from my husband. The manufacturer told me to change my name or they wouldn't insure both of us

you can’t ever use your maiden name if married
absoloute bollocks

You can use both names. Your maiden name is your birth name and always will be. The married name is one you can use if you want to.

Basically as long as you have a legal document in each name you can use both/either. I've done this for over 30 years.

"However, you can only have one legal name at a time. So you can't have a passport in one name and a bank account in another."

This is completely incorrect. Scary what some people believe and quote to others.

So you can't have a passport in one name and a bank account in another. Really? So what about those PP who said they have bank accounts in two names?

In the event an insurance policy is made invalid, then premiums have to be returned to the customer. The insurance company can't just pocket the money and go "tough luck loser".

Hence my point above. If the advisor was in any way correct, the OP should have been pressing for their refund. Which would have sorted things out PDQ. One way or another.

Oops. I think that's me who said about the passport and bank account. Of course you can have bank accounts in other names, didn't think properly before I wrote that.

MummyKauli PLease, please do some research before giving advice about the legal status of names.

You can, and many people do, use more than one name legally, including for bank accounts.

Lots of people use one name at work and one for family matters, not just those with professional qualifications, and you absolutely do not need to do a deed poll to use your birth name alongside a married name.

PLease, please do some research before giving advice about the legal status of names.

MN wouldn't be half as much fun if people bothered to check their facts before posting. I still get a warm glow from "ignore them" brigade about parking charges .

Well that’s wrong. I use both. My passport is Miss maiden name my drivers license is Mrs Married name. My national insurance is Mrs married and my banks are half and half.

Honestly, nobody in their right mind should take legal advice from MNers. As usual, there's so much shite getting spouted as fact on here, and this thread is the worst I've seen for it in a while.

Honestly, nobody in their right mind should take legal advice from MNers

Solicitors might disagree .

@blouseandskirt I apologise if the information was incorrect. This is what I was told recently by a solicitor when I was looking into changing my name. Maybe there's different ways of doing it according to each situation, this is what I was told so I was just sharing. Once again apologies if it was not correct

Years ago I had a mobile phone contract with One2One as they then were, and when I got married I said I wanted to change the name on the account. They refused because the name wasn't the same as the bank account.

As someone said, men don't have all these problems. It is sexist.

you most definitely have pick one and stick with it, you can't have two legal surnames lots of people do. Work in one name, personal life in the other. They're both "legal." They have to be, as you need ID to start a job. So they obviously have two forms of ID with both names on.

That said, I bought a new car that came with a year's free insurance that covered the owner and their spouse. There was no way that their computer system would accept that I could be married and have a different name from my husband. The manufacturer told me to change my name or they wouldn't insure both of us

This is nonsense. Lost of married couples in many cultures have different names. It would be discriminatory to suggest that they would not benefit from this insurance on religious or ethnic grounds.

It’s also unlawful to discriminate against gay or lesbian married couples or those in a civil partnership. Who are much less likely to have the same surname.

And finally , why would a car manufacturers insist that you, the customer, change you name to match the non customer you are married to ? If they insisted that you, a woman, change your name to match a man then that would be sexual discrimination.

So please post a copy of the letter you received from them insisting that you change your name and explaining why a marriage certificate wasn’t acceptable proof of your status ( with identifying details blocked out of course ).

These companies should be named and shamed.

Omg- this thread is such nonsense!

Deed poll for changing your name when you get married????

Signing the register is a legal name change???

You choose whether to change your name. Marriage certificate is enough proof for that.
You can change some, all or nothing

Deed poll for changing your name when you get married????

If you keep your maiden name or go with tradition and change to your husbands name you dont need to do anything.

If you change surnames to new ones, use your maiden name as a middle name or double barrel you need to change by deed poll.

These maiden/married name threads really panic me into thinking I haven't 'changed' my name correctly after getting married. I did nothing to change it. Not even sure what people mean when they say you have to legally change your name? Been married a long time and worried someone will come knocking!

If you change surnames to new ones, use your maiden name as a middle name or double barrel you need to change by deed poll.

No, you don’t.

www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll

such utter bollocks on this thread.

The insurance company are trying a fast one.

That link days toy dont if you change to spouses name.

If you double barrel, choose a completely new name or use a maiden name as middle name you do.

www.deedpoll.org.uk/AWomansRightsUponMarriage.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIidTzjfKk5wIVirHtCh0xLAzqEAAYASAAEgJjxvD_BwE

No, you legally don’t. If you want a piece of paper saying you’ve changed your name then you can use a deed poll (which is simply a declaration in writing that you’re changing your name) but legally you don’t have to, it’s just often asked for if you’re applying for a passport or the like.

You’re linking to a company that makes its money from selling deed polls so of course it’s going to encourage you to buy one. (And you can make your own, you don’t need to buy one.)