Married name, maiden name and the bank

The good news is I finally got a job, after being here for 7 months. I get paid via direct debit, and so, therefore, I need a bank. I thought it would be simple. Dearie me. Shoulda checked the forum before we started out today.  

We went into Barclay's because my US bank is BofA. The line was enormous. I know today's Saturday, but, really. Then, DH asked the nearest agent for advice, and was given a calling card with the phone number and told to make an appointment.   We left immediately.

So, we went to Santander/Abbey because that's been DH's bank since he was a child. I filled out all of the paper work with my married surname, while an agent made copies of my passport and marriage id, which both have my my maiden surname on them. The people at the immigration office said that I couldn't use my married surname because my maiden surname was the one on my passport. I didn't realise that the surnames would be such a problem, which leads me to the current issue.

My National Insurance Number is in my married surname. I use my married surname at work, and life in general. What name do I use when filling out the form for the direct deposit? Santander said that I might not even get the bank account at all, and that I'll get a call from them on Tuesday, telling me what their decision is. And also, the agent said that if I did get the account,  I could just bring our marriage certificate into them in one month.  I had it with me, and she didn't want to see it when we were there!

I'm supposed to turn all the new employee documentation in on Monday! Maybe I just won't get paid for January? I know it's only like, 3 or 4 days, but, I'd still like some of my own money.

I don't know if anyone has any advice. Maybe I'm just stuck, or will have to go with another bank?! Oh gosh!  

Get a provisional driving license in your married name.  They won't query it, you'll just have to send them a copy of your marriage license with the application (your passport will have to go as well, so they'll see your visa).  Once you have that, then you'll have official ID in your married name.  When I opened my account, everything was going fine until they asked for ID and I said that I had my passport but it was in my maiden name.  Worried looks crossed faces.  Then I mentioned that I had a provisional license with my married name, that also had my current address on it and all was smiles again.  This was at Lloyds, so YMMV.  In the meantime, can you get the direct deposits into your husband's account, then change it when you get yourself sorted? 

Congrats on the job, BTW 

You can use your married name in the UK without changing your passport name. All you have to do is show your passport w/visa and your marriage ceritificate.

Use your married name on the Direct Deposit.

If you work in January you'll get paid for it...they might have to wait for your bank details however...couldn't your husband just add you onto his account?

You can use your married name in the UK without changing your passport name. All you have to do is show your passport w/visa and your marriage ceritificate.

Use your married name on the Direct Deposit.

If you work in January you'll get paid for it...they might have to wait for your bank details however...couldn't your husband just add you onto his account?

Exactly what Weby said. I actually forgot my marriage certificate when I opened my UK bank account (d'oh!) and my passport is in my maiden name.  Just went back in a couple days later with my marriage certificate and filled out a form to change my name on the account.  Everytime I have to register, establish myself, etc I always use my married name.  Just have my passport and my marriage certificate for proof.


Congrats on the job by the way!

Congrats on getting a job, abbygirl!  Also, ditto what WebyJ and JessicaKate said, in my experience.  My passport is in my maiden name, but *all* my UK stuff is in my married name.  Our bank is The Cooperative bank.  Pretty sure all I did was show my passport and marriage certificate.  The funny thing was though, that they couldn't add me on to my hubby's pre-existing account and wouldn't open up an account just in my own name--don't remember why now  , but they just opened up a new joint account in both our names, which is where my paychecks get deposited.

I got my National Insurance number is my married name and applied for and gotten a job in my married name. I had a bank account at HSBC that had been opened in my maiden name. I went back to them with my marriage certificate and my passport and told them I wanted to change the name on my account from my maiden name to my married name. And it was easy and now I don't have any problems. And my passport and visa are still in my maiden name but there is a notation on my account saying what my maiden name was in case there is ever a question. They shouldn't give you too much hassle on this

I don't know why we didn't think of adding me to the account. We were trying to open a joint savings, and the agent said that the name issue was the problem, and that they're supposed to call me tomorrow to let me know their decision.

I'll ask DH tonight if we can just deposit the money into his account. Shouldn't be a problem, I don't think, but, work said that they could also just save the money that I'm making now to be deposited in with February's paycheck. The checks for January are being processed sometime this week, and I think it might be easier to do it that way. If Santander fails me, I shall head straight to HSBC.

Thanks everyone! I really love working at this nursery school, all banking drama aside.