Student Finance asking for marriage certificate after first year at university

[elliejjtiny]

Student loan people want a copy of my marriage certificate.

Is that normal, I'm sure they didn't ask for that last year. I've been married 22 years so it's not like it's recent. Dc1 just finished year 1 at uni and dc2 about to finish year 13.

Yeah, after the first year, I suddenly had to produce marriage and divorce documents.

I rang up to ask WTF?! And also I asked why I was down as ‘Parent 2’ when I was the only parent in my DC’s life, and the call-taker said ‘it’s a bit embarrassing to admit but the woman is always Parent 2 and the man is always Parent 1’.

I imagine Student Finance self-combusts when a gay couple applies.

But why does marriage status make a difference?

They said it was because I changed my surname.

You need proof of surname change. That might be the reason.

I didn’t change my surname on marriage or divorce.

Student Finance Usury Inc still wanted these very private documents. God knows whether they’re competent with data handling and security.

I don’t even know where ‘Parent 1’ (🙄) lives, so of course they don’t have any of his data and that’s fine apparently.

A Marriage Certificate is not a private document.

Yet these are adults and their higher education funding is based on parents and what their mothers surname is.
Ive not been asked but know to expect it!

Shall we settle on 'personal data that contains biographically significant details (names, dates, marital status) that relate to an identified or identifiable living person'?

Fucking outrageous that mum is always parent 2! We just grow whole humans and then give birth!

But anyone can apply for a copy of anyone else’s marriage certificate.

My daughter was 23 when she did her pgce and they still wanted my financial details and my partner (not husband) who is not related to her. Didn't ask for her dad's details. Partner refused to provide his. Daughter hadn't lived with me since going to uni at age 18. Apparently they are counted as dependant until age 25!

I think anyone can request someone’s marriage certificate online though