Newly married - problems depositing cheques

bookguy

We recently got married, and we are having some problems with depositing cheques in the various combinations of our names that people have written on them.

Let's say I'm Mr P Jones, my new wife was Miss S Smith. We are probably going to be called Smith-Jones.

We got cheques in our 'maiden' names, deposited them, no problem.

However, we also have cheques to Mrs Jones, Mr and Mrs Jones and Mr Jones-Smith. Things are a bit complicated as we will continue to work, and be paid under our unmarried names, and we will continue to receive cheques for those, so we need to retain those identities, too.

We only want to deposit the cheques in a deposit account, should we start a new account in the married names while retaining our current accounts in the unmarried ones, or is that identity theft or something? It's all very frustrating!

Advice very much appreciated!

maman

I had a similar problem. I don't actually use my married surname but that doesn't stop some people from giving me cheques in my married name because they have assumed (wrongly). I went into the bank, showed them some ID (marriage certificate) and they put a note on my file. So when I try to pay in a cheque, if the cashier isn't sure I get them to look up this note on the computer.

Have to say, over time the problems don't happen that often any more.

Congratulations BTW.

Lara44

Me too Maman, after I brought the marriage certificate in it was no problem.

4nnabella

It might depend on the bank's policy. After I had changed my name, I got a refund from the DVLA for my car tax when I sold my car, but it was made out to my maiden name. I have current accounts with two banks. I took the cheque in to one bank, with my marriage certificate, to try and pay it in but they wouldn't accept it. Said I had to get the DVLA to reissue it in my married name. Took it into the other bank and they accepted it. Have you spoken to anyone at the bank about what their policy is?

lilymay1

When I got married my bank allowed me 1 calendar month from the date on my marriage certificate to cash all cheques in my maiden name.

After that it was tough.

lowlitmemory

I took in my marriage cert and the banks (I have two accounts, one HSBC and one Lloyds TSB) both put a note on the account. Even a year later, I am able to put in cheques made out to my maiden name. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was.

However, I have actually changed my name to my husband's name, perhaps that makes a difference?

Could you open a new (joint?) account in 'married' names? And use that one to deposit the cheques?

Fire_Fox

You are making this far more complicated than it needs to be by choosing to combine your names AND insisting on keeping your maiden/ bachelor names. Simplify it by sticking with one joint surname: Smith-Jones or Jones-Smith. Write to everyone including your employers or clients, job done.

Icey77

My bank allowed me to bank cheques made out to my maiden name for a while after marriage. I think it was about 2-3 months.

It's a common enough problem so the banks should have a solution to it, I would ask the directly at the counter next time. The records are all there and a copy of your marriage certificate might be handy too.

Good luck!

Dunroamin

I operated a bank account for many years in my own name which allowed me to pay in cheques in my married name after taking in my marriage certificate. If your bank doesn't allow this, I suggest you change banks.

Sammy85_2

I've been able to deposit maiden name cheques recently - over a year since we got married. I got one paid out from an old policy i cancelled and it arrived in the wrong name and the company refused to issue in married name as they had shut down my account.

Cashed it no probs (Natwest) - It just required me to take in my marriage certificate and the cashier wrote on the back of the cheque that she had seen my marriage certificate and stamped it.

cottonhead

Half the time they dont seem to check unless its a large sum. Did you read about that man who didi an experiment to see if his cheques would be stopped ? He wrote out a series of cheques calling himself various names such as micky mouse and bob the builder etc ? !
Anyway when this happended to me they just looked back at the records and saw what my name used to be and then accepted the cheque no problems. The other thing that might be worth doing st some point is checking your credit file. On shredding some old bills the other day I found around 7 different spellings of my name. These could be listed on your file under aliases or financial associates so worth a check and get it tidied up.