Married name problems at work

[RandomMess]

My new employer are stating that to use my married name (double barrelled) that I need a deed poll...

I do not have a passport, do have a UK photo card driving licence, P45, Inland Revenue Statement.

Any ideas where to point them to prove they are being quite frankly stupid or are they right?

I think they are being silly. Legally you are correct, it comes down to their internal procedures and probably wanting to make sure there is some independent evidence of the name. But you have the driving licence, P45, Inland Revenue - all official documents so that should be enough.

I think had I name changed more recently I would have had issues due to new money laundering regulations, right to work regulations etc. I will put it in writing to them that their internal procedures are not my problem and I am not unique in this situation and they need to resolve it.

Have you double barrelled your maiden name with your husband's name? If so they are right. If you've taken your husband's name that was already double barrelled and stopped using your maiden name then they are wrong.

Are you are a solicitor Kinton?

The issue is that I have used this name for 11 years... they now are going to change it on my pay info etc HMRC have no record of me using that name!

They show your current name, and your new spouses name, and the fact that you are now married which gives you the legal right to use the latter rather than the former.

It isn't being married that gives you the legal right to change your name. Being 18 gives you the legal right to change your name. What people need to do, when changing their name with official bodies (GP, school, passport, bank, DVLA etc) is provide proof of change of name. A change of name deed is all that is needed. A full deed poll is unnecessarily complicated and expensive.

The marriage cert does provide proof of change of name, and means you don't need a change of name deed. It IS a change of name deed.

I researched this as I have double-barrelled my surname upon marriage - you absolutely need a deed poll. Your marriage certificate only gives proof of you taking your husband's surname or him taking yours. Apparently it's beyond people to establish the origins of the double-barrelled surname through the marriage certificate - I mean, seriously, a surname from one party and the surname of the other party pushed together is hardly rocket science!

People are getting a bit confused here...

Deed poll or not my legal name is now Double Barrelled - EVERYTHING is in this name. I would need a deed poll to open a bank account in another name due to money laundering rules. The fact I achieved this without a deed poll is a twist of history.

The other way of proving my right to work in the UK is my birth certificate (in my maiden name, another one!!) and proof of NI - P60 or P45.

If they want a court registered deed poll I will order a full birth certificate and use my P60 as evidence...

I will also mention I have checked this out with several legal people...

And to offer the alternative anecdote, i double-barrelled 8 years ago and didn't need a deed poll. As I said, work didn't ask for any proof (and this was a global bank so pretty hot on checking info unless you count the libor). Everywhere else accepted my marriage certificate.

Best bet is to listen to ph47bridge

@RandomMess haha no I’m not a solicitor! I just checked this out when I was planning to change my name upon marriage to a hyphenated name and when I realised it wasn’t as straightforward as just changing solely to my husband’s name I didn’t bother! But when I posted I hadn’t read your update where you said you’d been using the double barrelled name for 11 years. From your op I had assumed that this was an issue you had just come across when trying to change your name so apologies for my redundant advice!

Kintan I never researched but everyone was happy - I worked for the government at the time

I am so stressed it's untrue. I have already got a payslip in the first week and it's in a name I've never used on the first day I tried to have this discussion with HR and they just wouldn't...

I'll take in my birth certificate (only short one unfortunately) and P60 tomorrow! I am going to ask for this evidence whereby they LEGALLY have to use the name they have viewed as evidence of right to work in the UK on their IT systems/HR records.... you can have a "known as" first name so that isn't true!!!!

Also on half the systems the have my first name spelt incorrectly which I told them about before I even signed a contract

It does sound really stressful :( Hope you can get it sorted out soon. I do remember being told that if you’ve been known by a name for a certain number of years then that becomes your legal name so hopefully this will be the case for you. Good luck!

I wouldn't worry about NI contribution records etc. That's what your NI number is for - as long as that's right, your tax records will be right, HMRC don't rely on the name matching up!

@ThePants999 yes I know that theory but if the Inland Revenue P60 and P45 can be used as evidence to work in the UK and you identity then I want it in my Legal name....

Also at one point IR changed the letter at the end of my NI number for some random reason (always just been employed) so you know I don't want these things messed with

I wrote to the HR lead making various points including how the government accepts current driving photo card licence as proof of identity and how could we resolve it...

That was first thing no response by the end of the day if they confirm it needs to be full birth certificate and inland rev document that's the cheapest route to go down!

HR are now saying they will accept my driving licence