Deed Polls and New Savings

moneysavingmonkey85

I have just married, and we both double-barrelled. We both used deed poll. I am looking to open a joint savings account in our new names (for our gift money) does anyone know if the deed poll documents will be enough, or will I have to use it to get new ID first?

Thanks

weezie_2

If you're opening an account with someone you already hold an account with, a formal letter with a legal copy of your deed poll should do to change the names on you existing account. Otherwise you'll need other ID... which is when it gets tricky.

If you can, get several legal copies of your deed poll. Update the Electoral register and any utility companies first. If a company wants to credit check you, they'll use the electoral register (but you probably won't be credit checked just for a savings account). Most companies want proof of address in your new name, which is where the utility bills come in. To cover yourself, also sort out your driving licence & passport. These have to be done in a certain order - pick up the docs from the post office & check them out. Expect to be ID-less for a couple of weeks for each doc.

The other problem is that you often need to open the savings account using a cheque written from a personal account in your name - so get updating you bank current account asap.

Be prepared for a sticky few months. It might be best to open a single account in one of your old names as a temporary measure, then transfer the money into a new savings account in joint new names when you have the required ID. I changed my name at the start of the year. The process of deed polling was surprisingly easy, but the process of updating everyone was surprisingly complicated. Ontop of any financial accounts that need changing, theres the utilities, tax office, passport, driving licence, life assurance / home insurance etc, etc. This site will give you a good list if you don't already have one. I think I wrote about 30 letters in all and about a third of them got my name wrong first time in that they assumed I had doubled barreled my surname. Maybe this assumption will work in your favour? (Alliance & leicester have had 3 goes over 4 months & it's still not right. Just waiting until the account benefit expires to close the account.)

Nice to finally share our surname though - just about outweighs all the hassles.