Stuck in a name-changing loop with HMRC

FrustratedofNorthumberland

My wife is trying to change her name with HMRC.  She has gone to this government web-site, and signed in using Government Gateway, which requires her to prove her identity.  She cannot prove her identity, because the name listed by HMRC is different from the name on her passport and driving licence.
So she's in a genuine (I think) Catch 22 situation: in order to change her name with HMRC, she needs to prove her ID, but in order to prove her ID, the names need to match.
Any advice as to how to break out of this loop?  It's not obvious which number to phone, and the waiting times are off-putting. 
Would sending HMRC a 'Deed of change of name' do the job?     

marcia_

 Birth certificate showing birth name and passport to prove change of name? 

Tony5896

Also marriage cert / deed poll showing change of name .. 

FrustratedofNorthumberland

Thanks for the suggestion.  My wife eventually got through on the phone, and it all appears to have been sorted, without too much trouble!  It seems strange to me that you can change your name over the phone, without having to provide evidence of anything, but fingers crossed!

Bigwheels1111

My friend wants to change from married name to maiden name.
Has no photo id, big problem.
But as benefits are in married name the change could screw her up big time.
So just lives using both.

Sophie7777

FrustratedofNorthumberland said:

Thanks for the suggestion.  My wife eventually got through on the phone, and it all appears to have been sorted, without too much trouble!  It seems strange to me that you can change your name over the phone, without having to provide evidence of anything, but fingers crossed!

Can I ask what number she used to contact them please? I have the same problem. 

Muttleythefrog

Pleased you got it resolved because they can be a blooming pain.... my wife was unable to update her telephone number so she could get access to government gateway....she couldn't pass the security instead as there was insufficient viable for her (foreign national)... she went through online help and they eventually  suggested she call. When she called they said they could resolve and eventually concluded they lacked sufficient security questions to ask so were unable to.... end of road. Solution - waited a couple of years for changed circumstances such that sufficient security questions could be asked, access gained, tel no updated. Farce!

sheramber

Sophie7777 said:

FrustratedofNorthumberland said:

Thanks for the suggestion.  My wife eventually got through on the phone, and it all appears to have been sorted, without too much trouble!  It seems strange to me that you can change your name over the phone, without having to provide evidence of anything, but fingers crossed!

Can I ask what number she used to contact them please? I have the same problem. 

https://www.gov.uk/tell-hmrc-change-of-details

You can also tell HMRC that your name or address has changed using the HMRC app.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/income-tax-enquiries-for-individuals-pensioners-and-employees

Telephone:
0300 200 3300

Best time to phone is as soon as lines open at 8am to be at the front of the queue.

Muttleythefrog

Bigwheels1111 said:

My friend wants to change from married name to maiden name.
Has no photo id, big problem.
But as benefits are in married name the change could screw her up big time.
So just lives using both.

Being blunt I would say using two names is more likely to generate problems in the future... I think they'd be wise to get all organisations and new documents in the name she actually wants to go by.

Flugelhorn

Muttleythefrog said:

Bigwheels1111 said:

My friend wants to change from married name to maiden name.
Has no photo id, big problem.
But as benefits are in married name the change could screw her up big time.
So just lives using both.

Being blunt I would say using two names is more likely to generate problems in the future... I think they'd be wise to get all organisations and new documents in the name she actually wants to go by.

you used to be able to randomly use 2 and it never caused any problem - I used my maiden name mainly and occasionally my married name - trick was to remember which I had used - it was better if you do everything "formal" with just the one name but can socially use the other, where no ID is needed

nannytone_2

In the 90s, I claimed CB in my married name (claimed in 1980)
In 1993 I vlaimed DLA in my maiden as I was then divorced.
After a while HMRC wrote to me asking why o was claiming wiyj 2 names.
I just wxplained I couldn't afford to do without my CB to send my order book  back to get the name changed
Should be dar easier now there's no physical payment book