Conveyancers- man's name first

[MinnieMountain]

How much would this bother you if you were a woman and you put your name first on the forms/ your name is first alphabetically but your male DP was put first on your file?

I work for a licensed conveyancers as a title checker and I notice this on a significant number of files. I want to say something to the owners but as I'm not sure of their opinions on equal rights, I thought it best to ask around first.

I wouldn't give it a second thought. In my view people think far too much into these things. Someone's name has to be first, why does it matter!

I tend to put the name of the person in the couple I speak to the most

It would, and does annoy me. Just because something has 'always been done that way' does not mean that is right and therefore should continue. It insidiously perpetuates the nonsense that men are more important imo.

Alphabetical order is good. No need to automatically put the man's name first.

Alphabetical is good.

In this case there shouldn't be adverse consequences, but I remember the scandal a few years back when various mutuals (building societies) became banks and share issues were made to the first named individual but not the second, and many BS had a policy of putting the man's name first. It turned out there was no legal means of redress so tens of thousands of women lost out. So these discussions sometimes do matter very much, surfette.

It would annoy me. If you're the lead person/contact then your name should go first.
I use alphabetical order to address people in correspondence/communications in general.

Wouldn't bother me as long as both names are on there, though the one you contact the most should go on top.

It annoys me if I’ve been doing all the contact.

I always put the woman's name first, on principle.

No-one ever questions it. It's my small act of defiance

Thank you.

I did a title check yesterday where the man got put first on our file despite the man being second alphabetically.

I agree that it implies the man is more important. It bothers me every time I see a file like this.

The owners will probably only change it (tell the New Business team to do it) if they see a business need, so if it puts clients off...

It annoys me if I’m the one who has all the contact with a company and they address correspondence to my husband

It would bother me and I once moved my business with an estate agent when they did similar.

Its currently driving me absolutely nuts - I'm selling my late parents property and am dealing with everything on the estate. The only contact my brother has had with the conveyancers is to confirm that as beneficiary he approves the sale. But yet all generated letters (which are emailed to me) are addressed to me at his address or to him. I have now had to ask 10 times for corrections as obviously I need everything recorded correctly for the estate accounts

It annoys me immensely always has done. I'm disappointed this is still happening.

@SofaSurfette - The thing is that if it was random, or without any tought into it, then 50% of the time will be the male, 50% female. Which does not happen. Why?

It’s usually the case a management software used by law firms that does this. It’s irritating but very hard to change unless the fee earner amends every letter / document manually - which they simply don’t have time to do.

It annoys me. Especially, as PPs have said if I’m the one having most contact with them. My first and surname are both before my husband’s alphabetically. One company that I’ve noticed does keep my name first is SSE so despite them pestering me constantly for a smart meter, they get something right. I think our water bill is sent to DH, even though I set up the account and DH has never contacted them.

Another thing that annoys me - DH will he asked if his title is ‘Dr or Mr’. I will he asked if my title is ‘Miss or Mrs’. Neither of us are Dr but I’m more likely to get a PhD than my husband is and it’s a route I’ve considered many times. DH has absolutely no interest at all in doing a PhD.

It was annoying when claiming back stamp duty as I do all the paperwork but the refund was held up because dh was first on the land title but I had claimed the money to go into our joint account (because I always do the financial paperwork). They wanted to give the refund to the 'lead' purchaser which had been put down as dh even though I did the majority of the moving management.

Yes, this also annnoys me. HMRC and government bodies do this as well and uses envelopes that only show the first name so my DP gets all our joint correspondence from them, even though I'm first by surname alphabetically (and DP is crap at passing stuff on that often needs dealing with urgently). The local council do this with our Council tax too, the male name ascendant! I wondered if it was because my DP's forename is first alphabetically or ift he software is "sexist".

@DailyFailstinks

It’s usually the case a management software used by law firms that does this. It’s irritating but very hard to change unless the fee earner amends every letter / document manually - which they simply don’t have time to do.

I'd have hoped by now, software would have been changed to accommodate same-sex couples. That should have removed ordering spouses by sex.

I've had this happen to me loads around conveyancing/rentals/landlord/bank accounts, even though it's always me that does most of the contact, and it annoys me every time.

In fact, the couple of occasions it hasn't happened have actually stood out and had me use the solicitors/conveyancer/estate agent/whatever again.

Our software requires the person opening the new file to enter the details themselves. So it's definitely human error in our case.

@user1487194234

I tend to put the name of the person in the couple I speak to the most

That's what I tend to do too if I'm doing the TR1s etc - but mostly my secretary does them and I can't recall ever changing the order she chooses.

Yes and I’ve noticed the “opposite” of this Which also drives me Nuts.

Whenever my husband and I sign up for school related things We’ve Always put his name first as he has been our designated “point person” for our daughter for various reasons. Yet I keep getting emails sent only to ME and he gets nothing. I usually reply all putting him back on and ask him to answer, but it keeps happening.

I can just imagine the providers/teachers thinking “why does this woman keep bothering her husband?” Arghhhhhh.

Its currently driving me absolutely nuts - I'm selling my late parents property and am dealing with everything on the estate. The only contact my brother has had with the conveyancers is to confirm that as beneficiary he approves the sale. But yet all generated letters (which are emailed to me) are addressed to me at his address or to him. I have now had to ask 10 times for corrections as obviously I need everything recorded correctly for the estate accounts

I wonder if this is something the Equality and Human Rights Commission could be persuaded to take up - it’s an undue burden on women when dealing with administrative matters to have to constantly correct companies that do this. Similarly with schools who default to the mother instead of following designated primary contact Requests.