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.

Totally get it!

But but but....they aren't accepting your name from their documtation either (with or without hyphens and spaces)!! Your child's surname isnt S Jones, its Smith Jones!! Its not up to them to tell you how your name is spelt.

Agree with pp. Ask them to do it properly, if they refuse again then tell them you cannot stay with a bank that refuses to acknowledge an account holders name and will be taking your business elsewhere. And do it. Then complain loudly to hq. And twitter. And Facebook. Be that person.

My computer system can't accept spaces in the surname box so if there is no hyphen then it's a problem. I bought the system in and it's internationally available

Exactly!!!!!

I have spent a while discussing with various customer support, being passed higher and higher up/different departments, but still being told no.

I came on here to ask genuinely AIBU, because if I got an overwhelming YABU, I wouldn’t push on Twitter etc. I’ve already written by complaint form as per the suggestion of the last customer support person I spoke with, and if that doesn’t fix things, I may yet do the Twitter thing (though don’t really want the attention. Here at least is anonymous, and my Twitter handle is not.)

Not sure if it makes a huge difference, but I’m not sure it’s a ‘bank’ as such – it’s one of those ones where you pre-load a card for the kids with money, and can keep track of what they are spending on, set tasks/chores etc. It’s NOT GH.
It took me ages to pick them over the others, I’m really bored of all the faffing with such things. I like their app, if the name thing was right, I’d really love them.

Seems to be how they operate too, but surely any system needs to facilitate a human override for circumstances where we don’t all fit in a box.

I've come to the conclusion that we are required to bow down before some obscure information technology person who devises the format for names and modes of address in these so-called service companies. I currently have initial and surname on my bank card but only after getting them to change it from the issued format of title, full first name and surname. Most such battles are lost, though, as we are told it is the system.

In your case, it might be worth sending an email to the head office, addressed, by name, to the chief executive of the company, where it will at least be seen by an executive assistant and hey presto! may suddenly become possible to change. It's intolerable that a commercial company will not put your surnames on your account or card.

I came on half-ready, according to your title, to tell you that it's silly and that banks should be only issuing according to the legal name (or as close as possible, it's a pain that they won't print letters not in the English alphabet), but in your actual situation, what they're doing is not right. They should be printing the legal name according to their usual conventions, which is always full surname.

I do think it's odd if you're not Spanish etc. to have a double surname without the hyphen. Like with PP, I wonder if that's what's tripping the system up - I have a double surname hyphenated and have never been 'chopped up' by a bank. But if that's what your child's got, that's what should be printed. Absolutely don't accept this current situation.

Out of interest, why did you object to the format of title/full first name/surname?

OP the problem with a manual override is that it has to go via a computer at some point, the staff can't hand write the cards.

I fully understand why this is annoying and frustrating. However, taking a step back, why is it a problem? You said that they already have cards with their full names on them that their father got for them, so they have ID. The name format won't stop them using the card (you can buy things with any card, it doesn't my have to match the name that the item is being delivered to).

Can you explain a bit more what the practical impact is?

That is odd. Unless the double barrelled surname is very long - say, for example Pilkington-Schwarzenegger, and the Christian name/forename quite small, like Amy... To put Amy P-Schwarzenegger, or Amy Pilkington-S is frankly, quite bizarre.

I would be annoyed too @RainbowTash coz they're erasing part of her identity.

@GoneWithTheWine1

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

What, from the OP's original post gave you the idea this is her only problem in the world? What a utterly stupid and obnoxious comment.

My sentiments exactly!

An address in the past has also fallen foul of the ‘computer says no’ as it had a flat number that wasn’t always recognised. Argh.

Back to my name issue. I will do as you suggest if I don’t get a good response from them after receiving my complaint form. I really do have enough to do without this hassle, but it’s really important to get these things right. I find it intolerable too, hence my initial messages back and forth with customer support, and now gaining input on mn to check I’m not being OTT requesting my children's surname be correctly represented on their bank cards.

I honestly wouldn't worry yourselves over it.

It's a bank card.

A manual override should be done on a computer though. It just needs a field for the computer to accept human interference with its failing ‘logic’. That’s all I’m asking.

As for why it’s a problem.

1. it’s plain incorrect, and why should they have their incorrect name on any of their ID
2. their father and I aren’t together. He has their cards for their use when they are with him. Mine are for when my children are with me. The youngest is too young to carry a card around with her all the time.
3. the dropped name is my half of their surname. Their father's surname is the only one being represented. This pisses me off! Plus, equality.
4. it really feels wrong. Like part of their identity is erased.
5. I like things to be done properly.

It’s actually fairly complicated and not just the bank’s decision. The design of the card (horizontal/vertical) can sometimes limit the number of characters that fit, but more likely it’s to do with which company actually manufacturers the cards and the machinery/systems they use to do it.
I manage a credit card product and we have 23 character surname limit, based on the fact that the majority of customers will fit within this and it’s incredibly expensive/difficult to expand this for a tiny number of cards.

That’s exactly it. It feels like part of their identity is being ignored.

Their first names are seven or eight letters long.
Surnames are seven then eight letters long. Doesn’t look especially long to me.

The card looks really wrong, like the initial from the first part of the surname is their middle name.

e.g. Amy S Jones

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

Oh for goodness sake. Have you tried their social media channels? Someone with a brain cell needs to look at this. Or contact someone at the Times or Guardian weekend consumer pages and ask them to look into it. Or even threaten to complain to the ICO as they are not using your kids' personal information correctly?

Good to hear from you, thank you for the insider info.

I’m sure it’s a different financial institution, but the surname (both parts) is a total of 15 letters, plus a space. I care less if the space is missing. I’m looking at their cards right now, and this would easily fit if they dropped the first names down to an initial. As it is, it just looks so wrong to me. I’m asking for the option to do this, not stretch their full names across the whole card.

I understand most people have shorter names, but I really think it’s still a large minority of people whose names don’t fit within such rigid parameters and there ought to be allowance for this.

I manage a credit card product and we have 23 character surname limit

Yes but it's not the limit that is the problem here. It's the format, and it makes no sense.

Well, if they can’t overrule the computer then what exactly do you want them to do? Implement a new system at the cost of millions to pacify the anally retentive?

This is pure and simple vanity on your part.

I’ve messaged them privately on Twitter. They directed me to the customer support on the app, which is where I’m at right now.
I await the response from the complaint form the CS person told me to fill in.

I totally agree re them not using my kids’ personal information correctly.

In general they go with what is on your passport or proof of ID provided. My main account gives First name, initial of second name and Surname.
Credit card from same back gives First name, Surname
Credit cards from other banks give First name, Surname

Waitrose have included the title Dr. somehow on my clubcard though lol. I'm not a doctor - medical or otherwise.

Credit card from same BANK gives First name, Surname

One of the problems with these systems is that when you fill in a form there may be a box for title and a separate box for name but the system then lifts the title and puts it on a formal document that asks for NAME, as well as lifting the title and full forename for your address for correspondence.

It all seems to go back to how the system is designed by some tech person in the first place and it's then nearly impossible to change details to a correct format, which may vary for different purposes.

My local corner shop prints my name on the receipt when I pay by card. I think that's an unnecessary use of my details and posted about it here some time ago. Apparently I should be grateful to be able to afford food at all lol. I ran off the site with my tail between my legs. 😆

How annoying. My kids have double barrelled names (and three first names poor things!) My son has bank cards and they all say ABC Cunningham-Jones (not the actual name). So some banks can do it. I'd consider changing to another bank and telling the original one why. Though if you speak to them now you might find they can do it after all.

I have this trouble booking flights for my kids online (not all agents but definitely Tui) as their whole name won't fit in the online form. But it HAS to be in full on the ticket. The agent can bypass the issue by entering it manually their end when I phone them. Bank may be able to do similar.

The initial should be your second name.

It's possible that somehow you or somebody filled the form in mistakenly.

It usually has

FORENAME(S)
SURNAME

or

FIRST NAME
SECOND NAME

SURNAME

It might be that you filled the first surname into the second name field?