That bank cards should fit our names on per our preference

[RainbowTash]

Just set up bank accounts for the children. They have a double-barrelled surname (but no hyphen).
The cards have just arrived, but the bank has chosen to format the names on the cards as first name, initial of first part of surname, last part of surname.
I can’t stand the surname being chopped up like this; it’s not their name. I’ve asked for new cards with First name initial, then full surname, but bank computer says no.

The names aren’t crazy long, but fitting first name plus both parts of the surname exceeds the allocation of letters the bank allows on the card. I know people with longer surnames than we have.

e.g. name is Amy Smith Jones
Bank card reads Amy S Jones
We want them to read A Smith Jones

AIBU that I think the bank should print the cards with the names on correctly?

YABU - it doesn’t matter
YANBU - yes, banks should be more flexible/accommodating.

If this is your only problem in the world then your a lucky lucky person.

Havent voted but generally there is a limit to how many characters - I would check this first and then submit your preference accordingly.

Yeah that’s odd, my bank manages to fit my 4 letter first name, middle initial, 7 letters first surname and 5 letter second surname. I am not in the uk but is also in that format on my AMEX card (which is I assume international).

My DH has 2 surnames and his cards all have the first name initial then both surnames in full.

It does look like they're issuing cards in the wrong name, doesn't it?
Difficult if you use one as ID when collecting a parcel at the Post Office.

Are you sure the bank have the shortened name down as part of the surname and not a middle name?

in other weird stuff, our residence permits only fit one nationality, DS has two so when he travels with one passport it’s fine but with the other he has different nationalities on his passport vs. his permit which raises some eyebrows at border control. I asked for both to be added, but again, computer says no.

If your name is too long then you should be able to specify what part of the name you wish to use. I know a family who only used a portion of their 18 letter surname on social contexts for example.

My bank cards have always had:
J. Justcannot Cannot

So both my surnames and an initial

Yes, you’re right, it reads incorrect. Is this with all banks or just one in particular? I wonder whether they’ve mistakenly typed the first half of the surname in the middle name section and that’s where the problem is stemming from?

OP did not say this was their only problem in the world, or that it’s the worst problem imaginable 🙄 People can talk about what they like!

I wish mine was that sensible. Mine shows my title, first name and then half of my surname. So think "MRS JENNIFER HATHAW" if my surname was actually "HATHAWAY".

Has she suggested this is her only problem?

Yes. There is a limit, but my preference (A Smith Jones) would fit.

I’m now convinced they’ve put the “Smith” in the middle name box on their system.

Why not just speak to the bank? Blimey.

Yes, as is my experience, including when I had a name of equal length to the children.
The bank is an international one, so I was very surprised to have their cards arrive like this, as they must have many nationalities where surnames are traditionally longer than my children’s two-part surname put together.

I’ve always had a double barrel last name and have always had my full first name plus full double barrel last name. A name is a name. The bank can’t just decide what part is important.

If it's not hyphenated, the system probably has it as a middle name mistakenly.

Why not hyphenated? Having 2 surnames is odd if you don't hyphenate them to make them 'one'.

I have. They say it’s “card printing logic”. I asked that in circumstances such as mine, can’t they overrule the computer and manually input it, and they are saying no. I find this unreasonable, so asking here if I’m alone in that thought.

My feelings precisely. As it is, it looks wrong and incomplete. I think it should be up to us to choose which part to drop, if it doesn’t all fit.

My bank changes it up with each card, so this one says PIE GONE SURNAME, previous have said MRS PIE G SURNAME and MRS P GONE SURNAME. I asked them about it years ago and they basically said it was for 'reasons' - very helpful.

😂

I wonder do they insist on having the full first name to make fraud more difficult? If it's just an initial might it be easier for someone to use a stolen card if there's no indication of gender (probably increasingly less relevant now as most fraud will be online).

If that is the case, it should then be possible to override that and manually correct it.
When we applied, I put the whole surname in the surname field, so it’s clearly not a middle name.

What if you were Spanish or of Spanish extraction where the convention is given name, father’s surname, mother’s surname? You might well be Victoria de Los Robles Gonzalez or something which is your full name. Are they going to say you can’t have that?