name change

triple_h

any one had experience of changing surname by deed poll.....ie. will it effect my credit rating etc or can I carry my existing rating with me

Savvy_Sue

I think your credit rating stays with you rather than your name, IYSWIM, it may just take a little longer for people to check it because of the name change.

If it didn't stay with you rather than your name, people with bad credit ratings would just change their names at regular intervals, and that wouldn't be good, would it?

sarahlouise210

It is no different than when you get married - how many of us worry about our credit rating when we change our name on marriage ?? They will just check out your previous addresses and all will be fine (as long as your redit is good!)

triple_h

I,m changing name for family reasons....luckily I generally score well credit wise and luckily dont have any debt...........other than the mortgage millstone of course!!

Thanks for the advice guys

Scoflo

To save some cash don't do it by deed poll. You can call yourself whatever you want so long as it's not for fraud.

Send yourself a recorded delivery letter with the full name you want to be known by and when you sign for it it's dated and "official". Simply advise everyone that from this date you will now be known as................Job done.

rammy007

we changed ours and a lot of associations/companys who need proof will only accept the legal documents from a solicitors so be careful it wasnt that expensive and if you are going to do it its better to get it right straight away else it may not crop up that you need it for a couple of years

LyndsM

Hi there

I changed mine several years ago (surname and first name). It cost me £50 at a local solicitor - for that they gave me the 'official' documentation, plus several official copies (where they have stamped and signed it to be 'a true copy of the original') You can use these copies for some things instead of forever posting off your one and only original version which is a bit scary (some organisations will only accept the original version though, such as passport ofice etc., so be sure to use a postal method with signatures on delivery and advise them to return to you by recorded/registered mail etc. too).
Your credit score shouldn't be affected and will travel with you.
It can be a bit of a pain while you go through all your various accounts/insurance/passport things but it is best to do everything as soon as possible after the name change, as the longer you leave it the more confusing it gets when you have documents in one name and some left under the old one.
Still, it's a good opportunity to go through all your paperwork, close down old accounts, ensure your addresses and other details are correct and tie up any loose ends at the same time (paperwork spring cleaning! such joy! :rolleyes: )

Hope that helps
Cheers
Lynds

comping_cat

I changed my name by deed poll 10 years ago, and then changed it back about 4 years ago (cheaper the getting married, and a lot less hassle when we split up!!!) ive always been a credit card 'tart' and have never been turned down, ive also applied for maortgages and had no problems there, so i would assume that your credit rating isnt effected!

DaisyNelson

If you have a mortgage in your name, don't forget to tell the mortgage people and get them to confirm they have informed the Land Registry. Otherwise your house could 'appear' to be owned by someone with a different name when you ask for your deeds.

Bossyboots

All you actually need is a statutory declaration an example of which is here. http://www.swarb.co.uk/lawb/prcDecChangeName.shtml

Draw this up yourself and take it to a solicitor to be signed and witnessed. It will cost £5. If you require certified copies then you will have to pay extra for those.

Some banks now are only accepting the original document, not even certified but most places accept the copies.

You do not even need to send yourself a letter to make your new name official, just use it. The only reason you need a statutory declaration is to prove to officialdom that you have changed your name. The declaration is not a name change document, it is just evidence that you have effected that name change.