Equifax unable to change surname

Benian

My husband and I got married 3 years ago. When I husband advised Equifax he wished to change his surname, he was advised that this was not possible for a man, but was possible for a woman. After filing a complaint with the company they upheld our complaint but said that there was nothing that they could do.
The error with his surname has resulted in him not being on the electoral roll and had a detrimental affect in his credit rating and score.
We did refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman but believe that there is little that they can do. I believe Equifax are in direct breach of the Equality Act 2010, whereby my husband is being discriminated against due to his sexuality.
Can anyone offer any advice on where to go from here?
Thank you.

[Deleted User]

When you say he is not the ER - has he not registered? Or he has registered and the council have rejected it? Or he's on it but Equifax don't recognise it?

Has he opened any credit in his new name?

What is the situation with the other CRAs?

Benian

He was registered on the electoral roll under his married name, Equifax did not recognise this and so did not have him registered.
They state that it is company policy not to change a man’s surname.

Tigsteroonie

"nothing they can do"?

What would Equifax do if your husband had changed his name by Deed Poll? I'm pretty sure they could accommodate the change then ...

edit. That may be the root of the problem, I've just found this, admittedly on a Deed Poll website (so they have a vested interest):

The process for doing this is rather different to when a woman takes her husband's surname. When a woman takes her husbands surname, a copy of the marriage certificate is all that is required by organisations. However, in order for a man to officially change his surname to his wife's, he should execute a Deed Poll. This would then allow him to get all documents and records updated into his new name, without any problems or delays. Husband and wife can then be known by the same surname.

Tigsteroonie

And on a different Deed Poll website@

Please note, government departments, including the Passport Office and DVLA accept marriage certificates as documentary evidence of a man changing his surname to a double-barrelled surname or for a man taking his wife's surname. The only way to find out if you need a Deed Poll to get your non-government documents and records changed is to contact, for example, your bank, building society, credit card company and mortgage company etc and ask what their policy is for changing your surname upon marriage.

So it sounds as though the government agencies are playing fair under the Equality Act, but not some companies.

Benian

Very interesting, thank you. I am considering taking the matter legal and pursuing Equifax for damages against my husband.

robpw2

i changed my name with equifax when i got married (im a guy ) had to send my marriage certificate