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.

I had a similar issue. Bank put my first name on card and then left out half the letters of my double-barrelled surname e.g. Dappled Olive-Gro. When I pointed out the ridiculousness of this they kindly re-printed the debit card with just my initial and full surname so it would fit.

Possibly. Though both my children have names that are primarily used by the gender each child is, there are a tiny number of people who give their opposite-sex child their names.
e.g. My son is called Bernie (he isn’t).

Possibly. Though both my children have names that are primarily used by the gender each child is, there are a tiny number of people who give their opposite-sex child their names.
e.g. My son is called Bernie (he isn’t).

That’s all I’m asking too. It’s shouldn’t be this hard.

Also, my bank debit card says title-initial of first name- surname (and my surname has 11 letters) so surely most banks have a reasonable flexibility and number of spaces.

Yes!!! Exactly. I really need them to have their proper names on.

Double barrel surnames are a nuisance

Yes. That’s what I want theirs to say. I don’t know why the bank is being so rigid on this.

They can be, but they are pretty mainstream these days, so surely accommodations should be being made by now.

I think they make it up as they go along tbh.
My mum, dc and I all bank with thr same bank and would have applied using the same formats (eg all listed our middle names on the form. )

Mum is Mrs Firstname Initial Surname.

I am Miss Initial Inital Surname

DS1 was Initial Initial Initial Surname. His new card is Firstname Initial Initial Surname

DS2 is Firstname Middlename Surname

Lol, ok, that’s possibly worse than my situation. Though if they halved the second half of the surname of my children, it would look very odd.

Can you tell them it's SmithJones all one word and then at least it would be

Amy SmithJones

on the card? Not ideal, but they can't refuse that. It would be like telling someone called Amy Littleton and that they could only have Amy L Ton

I wonder if its because banks and the financial system can't cope with spaces? How many times have we inputted that four x four digits on the front of the card only to have to delete the spaces.

Does spaces mean anything in the binary tech world such as "delete all" or something?

Might be worth asking about but if they still say computer says no, would you be willing to add a hyphen just for this? Better to have the full surname rather than misspelt imo as it can be used as extra id proof.

Ha! I have two middle names, and usually get
Amy Beth C Jones. (C being Claire, or whatever - why does it get reduced to an initial! It’s as valid a middle name as my first middle name!) However, I’m less fussed about this as I am my children’s bank cards with the wrong surname on.

I already tried this! They said it had to be as it is on their official documentation. Argh! And yes, I did then point out that the name they’ve then given us is NOT as per their official documentation. Driving me nuts.

Just checked and one of mine has my entire name & title, despite that my first name is six & last name ten!

So “Mrs Louisa J Pickletops” (made-up name, obvs!).

My cousins are double barrelled xxxx-xxxxx and never had a problem. I agree that they have the first part of surname in the wrong field of their database (probably the middle name field).

Yes, I’d rather have a hyphen and both names than no hyphen and only half the surname. But as above, that’s not how it is on their documentation so they won’t accept it.

Not U at all
these situations where computers can't be overridden are crazy

in the absence of another solution, for ID purposes, could you input the surname as SmithJones? I suspect it will autocorrect to Smithjones but even that might be better than Amy S Jones.

Of course they should - change banks if they won't.

But threaten that before you do to avoid hassle

It's spelt you're. OP didn't say it was her only problem.

Just one.

Their father has a bank card for them and their names are correct on there.

The bank my accounts for them are with is know this is their surname, but are refusing to budge. I’m finding it really frustrating how rigid they are being, as it just doesn’t seem logical. It’s incorrect.

I really am tempted to. It’s all such a hassle though!

I've been double barrelled all my life, bank cards have always read Ms/Mrs N. Chats-Deux. Tbh it's only the bank I've never had any trouble with, most other official organisations it's been a nightmare getting them to get my surname right...doesn't help that IRL it's French and a very rare spelling.

Exactly.

I asked. Human said no.

I was going down the Bonham Carter route!

She doesn’t get called Helena B Carter, afaik!