How do I convince my bank to change the name on my account?

[TooOldForGlitter]

I know this is more of a 'chat' post but chances are there are people here who will know the answer to this!

My bank account is in my ex husbands surname, I haven't used that surname for many years and nothing else is still in that name except my bank account. My bank insist that I cannot change my name without a change of name deed. Are they right? I can't see how they can be when there is no law about taking your husbands name. I know this is trivial

Another vote for:

"Look, this is my name, according to the County Court and my employer, if you can't be bothered to align yourself with these entities, I'll be taking my business elsewhere"

And then do so. It's so much simpler to change accounts these days not like it was 25+ years ago when you had to do all the DD and SO legwork yourself, eh, Barclays?

Out of curiosity which bank?

I changed my name with Barclay's, they said no to decree absolute and I said hay no problem, let's close the account. Within five minutes it was suddenly possible to change there and then

Lloyd were wanting my marriage certificate dur, I'm divorced so have handed it into court and am not ordering one, they got their act together but have dragged their feet

I'd like to report that my bank account is now in the name of Ms Glitter but if a stand off with Aaron on the reception desk who insisted I needed a legal change of name deed to revert back to my maiden (ugh) name, but with the voices of you lovely lot ringing in my head, Aaron was despatched and its done!

*bit of

It was TSB, was Lloyds TSB before that.

Yay! Good for you!

Bet it feels a lot more comfy

It feels pretty good actually. The last little bit that had his name after so long. Oh for that time machine to go back and keep my own bloody name!

I fear Aaron is whining about strident feminists on his Facebook page but...meh!

Let him whine - it'll be good for him to have to think about it!

He really was very insistent that "it's the law" that my name changed upon marriage. No choice in it, it's just THE LAW. Therefore to change back to my birth name required a similar document, of the LAW!

He's an idiot. And wrong. But it's a sadly common belief.

Hope you complained about him and his wrong law facts to his senior! Twat!

He is a total idiot. Aaron of Lloyds TSB - if you see this, you are a misogynistic prick who knows nothing.

I thought that on marriage you were legally entitled to use either name, hence why some people do not change at all, or use both (eg unmarried name professionally and married name personally). It can be more of a hassle to have documents in different names, but perfectly legal.
Therefore even without a divorce or decree absolute, you should be entitled to hold a bank account in your unmarried name. Is that not right?

Well done. Funny how "please make out a banker's draft for the balance and close the account" brings about an attitude change!

Exactly. You don't lose the right to use your birth name on marriage, you just gain the right to use a second name without having to make a deedpoll declaration.

You can still use your maiden name even if you use your married name for other things.

I had a toe-to-toe with the receptionist at DS1's infant school when I applied for a then CRB. She insisted that my passport - which was at that point in my maiden name - was an illegal document because I was using my married name for banking. I got really quite cross with her How many times can you say 'that is still my name if I choose to use it, there is nothing legally stopping me', before you lose your rag? Quite a few it turns out.

As someone who used to work for lloyds I would like to defend Aaron. He's probably just following what he's been told by managers. He is wrong but he's probably not a prick.

People do have really weird ideas about this. I've certainly come across those who think you HAVE to change your surname to your husbands upon marriage, that only nobility can have double barrelled names, that there's 'rules' on what you can name your baby. Crazy!

Well done Ms Glitter

Well done to you! I would certainly be sending TSB some feedback - taking on board what thatstoast has posted, drawing their attention to the poor training that their front office staff are receiving (rather than calling Aaron a prick).