AIBU to want to take my degree certificate to the bank?

[DrTrillianAstra]

And make them change all my details to Dr Trillian?

(not Dr Trillian of course, actually Dr Realname, but you know what I mean )

Or is it too unbelievably poncey?

Tidey - I was waiting for someone to come up with BSC SSC!

Good luck with submitting peppapig! If you have a deadline remember that prnting it all off takes susprisingly longer than you think!

I changed mine, but didn't need to take in any proof - same with my passport.

But I DID do it as soon as I got my PhD - I earnt that title!!

Congrats

Well done - I just got my MPA (with distinction) - now that would be poncey to change it on my bank details, but it didn't stop me changing my MN name for a while!

But Dr TrillianAstra sounds great - you've earned it. I've also heard that it gets you upgraded on planes.

It's justifiable as long as you accept it's an obvious pose - there's no denying that really I'm afraid!

I used to work in a very (medical) consultant heavy environment, where most of the consultants were also members of various professional groups (fellows of this and that). The manager of the programme alwasy put BA after her name, and it looked incredibly stupid IMO. Presumably it was to compensate in some way, but everyone else had strings of letters, so I think it just emphasised that she did not. I also worked with a non-medical doctor (PhD) who particularly enjoyed annoying the "real" doctors by using her doctorate. They were a total bunch of snobs at times!

One thing you may find is that your post starts to become addressed to "Dr and Mrs". My sister was a Rev, and that seriously confused people, "Rev and Mr" obviously being too stramge to believe...

The couple of times I've used it I've felt like a bit of an arse. I also prefer to be 'Mrs' at work - I'm a teacher and it just isn't relevant. Outside of an academic environment - meh.

I'd think twice about doing it...
I used my title when opening an account for my partner's business...it seemed like a good idea at the time - I did have to send a copy of my certificate - which I had to get signed by another 'doctor' to be a true copy.
But then if I had to speak to the bank or paid by card over the phone etc once I gave the Dr Lusi bit their attitude changed...and I really didn't like it.
My own bank is still Ms/Miss but I did change my passport (on renewal) to Dr...mainly because before (as an unmarried mum)on an internal flight in Eygpt they left out my surname on DD1's ticket (she has both mine and DPs) and added my partner's surname to mine...to spare me the embarassment?
And someone on the passport helpline told me I couldn't use my title because 'I wasn't a proper doctor' - I was furious and phoned again to complain - to be told by 'of course you can' ... so I really had to then
And it is handy in that you can then verify someone's passport photo etc for them.

And occasionally if I get one of those annoying sales phone calls and they say 'Mrs/Miss Lusi' I correct them (but I do feel like a pounce afterwards!)

YANBU. Congratulations

Or even a ponce!

I kept my passport"Ms".
You can still verify passports anyway,with a professional qualification and role in the community.
It's fun in a way to do it but it is a bit cringeworthy,depending on what sort of person you are~I never say"Dr" on the phone unless it's required for my card etc~it makes me cringe.
But then I was brought up in the north where showing off is a cardinal sin.

they dont put any title on your passport Id page

they just print inside it

the holder is doctor trillian astra

I changed everything official when I got my PhD - I reckoned I had worked damn hard for the qualification and I might as well make the most of it.

I don't have it on my passport, for fear of being asked to help in a medical emergency on a plane (I do spend a lot of time on planes!)

But mostly people just call me by my Christian name, which I prefer. So I only insist on the Dr if anyone insists on wanting a title - or replies to Mr Neversaydie when I have signed a letter Persephone Neversaydie (so to speak).

DS's school address letters to Mr & Dr Neversaydie without any difficulty, although we have some acquaintances who address the annual Christmas card to Dr & Dr (DH is not a PhD or a medical Dr).

In other words - have fun with being a Dr, and enjoy the very clear proof that you have submitted and passed your viva!

I suppose I wonder why using the title 'Dr' is making the most of the hard work though...

I don't get it really.

ooo, i got my Dr title on the 8th of July and I haven't used it at all yet except for one sneaky email at work when I thought it might help. I didn't even think to change my bank cards or anything but now you have got me thinking...perhaps I should! Go for it, you have survived the horror of a PhD and although that may only mean something to others who have been through it, why on earth not use it? My colleague at work who hasn't been to uni says that I should definitely use mine because it means a lot to the general public but I am a little loath to because i work in health care but I am not a medical doctor and don't want to cause confusion...but that is a separate issue. Do it and who cares if it is poncy?

Morningsun - I'm the same as you -originally from the north and it makes me cringe - probably why the bank was so bad - its the COOP in Manchester.
KristinaM - I didn't know that when I decided to do it...but still it is a reason for you having your own name -doesn't help that DP has an arabic name -so cultures like the Eygptian one really don't get it..and am planning to go Algeria soon...

Also if the passport people know you are a doctor helps with the verifying bit (esp as a SAHM). And I used it on a reference for one of my partner's employees (an Iraqi) who got stuck with a visa problem in Jordan...
Actually felt like using it at DD1's school when filling in her start form - secretary said 'Miss' in such a shocked way (it is a small community here) - now they call me MRS Lusi and I don't correct them...

USE THE DR! I can't get funding for my PhD, so am jealous, grrrrr!

Be aware of sexist companies though - amazingly, certain companies, such as some very well-known holiday firms (can't remember off top of head this late at night) refuse to acknowledge Dr as a title women can have! My friend got her PhD last year and became Dr Friend with immediate effect and has come across 3 separate firms (not all hols ones) that have systems that won't allow for the combination of 'title: Dr' with 'gender: female' . And a few people have said to her 'but women can't be a PhD type of Doctor, can they?' or asked her if that's her husband's name, like how women used to call themselves 'Mrs John Smith' Yes, her husband's name is Eva - that classic male name

This reminds me of my Ex's Dad, who when he met me and discovered I was doing my MA said 'are women allowed to study that far?'.

USE THE DR!

It's a bit daft anyway as[surgical] medical Drs who then gain further qualifications in their specialities revert to Mr/Ms as their title.
Also,although it is only used as an honorary title for medical Drs,that is the general usage and assumption so it then looks as though if you are a PhD Dr you are trying to give the impression you might be a medical Dr

otherwise what is it for?
To show you have a second degree?~doubt it
To get recognition of your status?

Thank you - I am almost finished (on final discussion) but have only just put in my intention to submit form - leaving at least 6 weeks to fiddle with it and print it!

I have told DH that all post will now be addressed to

'Dr and Mr Peppapig'

It really winds him up, hee hee

The medical profession is being rather cheeky trying to own the title 'Dr' though, given most of them are MBBS rather than MD. And consultant surgeons are 'Mr' as someone said down the thread.

See, I'm not sure why medics would use their (honorary) title outside their professional life either. Equally poncey from a medic as a PhD/DPhil IMO.

Thefallenmadoona~agree, it's just a massive pose.

I suppose most do it because they can't resist it /to get back at the bank after years of debt when qualifying at 23

It's daft and indefensible really~fine if you can laugh at yourself for being a poser

Oh, do change it - I changed mine as soon as I could, and the difference in attitudes (in call centres etc) is fabulous - not sure why, but it always is. My finace (not a Dr) has been having real problems with the water company for the past year, so 'nominated' me to speak to them at the weekend - result is that his bill has been halved, and the comapny are investigating the problem.

My father (who also has a PhD) still relishes the time he was stopped for speeding, and the police officer asked for his license. When the policeman saw it, he just said 'Sorry Dr. Arolf'sdad, didn't know you were a Dr, please drive carefully in the future'
Mum is still spitting mad about it, as she has been fined for speeding once when on her way into the hospital whilst on-call - but no doctorate, so no excuse apparently!

because the policeman thought he was a medical Dr,obviously,so that's a bit dishonest