Virgin Current Account - wrong first name

anxiousnow

When I opened my Virgin account they got my Christian name slightly wrong (I provided all ID etc, so it's their error). I can put money in and out without any issue so for now it seems to be working.

I have contacted them loads of times via webchat, messaging and phone, but they have said to 'change my name' I have to go to one of their branches and my nearest branch is 30 odd miles away. 

Is it a risk to keep money in an account where my Christian name has a typo, or shall I just leave it as is? (I will not be travelling to the branch to do it!).

flo22

They will have kept a copy of your ID on file, write to them and tell them to refer to your ID on record and correct your name

Brie

If it's all online there should be no issues with actually dealing with your money.  The problem will be when there's further checks in place for moving money in - potentially a transfer could be blocked due to a mismatch.  Even things like being called Bob instead of Rob could be an issue.

fyi - I also had a cheque being deposited refused they said it had the wrong payee.  It's a joint account with my OH but we have different surnames.  And the cheque was made out to "Brie OH's surname".  It should have been obvious that it was meant for our account but some pedant wouldn't allow it.

PRAISETHESUN

I agree it's worth getting this sorted now before it becomes an issue. If you ever get asked to prove your ID in future it wouldn't match the name on file, which could cause all sorts of grief. 

I suspect they've gotten confused by someone calling it a "name change" though and defaulted to their standard process. It sounds like a relatively simple clerical error which should be fixable by double checking the ID they have on file. The problem will be getting through to someone who actually understands the issue and gets it sent to the right people.

mab3000

I tried to change my name after I got married on a virgin money account I had and quite frankly they were useless about it. Got told to go to one of their branches, which for me too was miles away. Then got to the branch to be told they don’t do it in branch and had to do it online. Back online got told can only do it in branch. Back to the branch, and despite every other bank happy to change my name in branch identifying me with my debit card and marriage certificate, virgin wanted ID in my new name as well. Which I didn’t have at the time as my licence had been sent off to be changed

In the end I just switched it to my Monzo account which was in my previous name still. Couldn’t be bothered with the hassle of it just for a couple of quid interest per month 

username

Bite the bullet and get it corrected, even if it does mean a trip to their branch with your ID.

Make a day out of it and do something else during your visit so it feels less onerous.

The options for a remote change seem to be exhausted, mind you, the service level and technology at Virgin Money is awful in my experience.

I've never been particularly impressed - from the fact they sent my card, it took a long time to arrive and was damaged in the post. No fast-track procedure to get a client a replacement card - just wait another 10 working days. And then there is the awful credit card app they forced everyone to use, dog slow and ropey performance whilst withdrawing the website, and had the cheek to say it was a service improvement!

Maskface

Just open a new account elsewhere and let this one go inactive. Unless this one offers some amazing perks?

anxiousnow

Maskface said:

Just open a new account elsewhere and let this one go inactive. Unless this one offers some amazing perks?

The interest rates are OK at the moment, but as soon as another account is offering more, I will move it all.