Changing name on Halifax card - branch or post?

patwa_2

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could provide me with any advice on whether I have a leg to stand on regarding this issue.

I applied for a credit card with the Halifax a year ago and was using it for a balance transfer. Thus, the only time I even looked at the card was to activate it, and even then I just looked at the card number and that was it.

I'm partially sighted and therefore had my statements sent in Braille. All was fine, although sometimes I noticed my name was spelt incorrectly with the 'a' missing from the end of the surname. Well, Braille transcription often has errors so I thought nothing of it as the financial details were all valid.

Now my balance transfer is complete and I want to use my card for purchase. So, I registered for online banking so I could more easily track my spending. At this time I had to look at the credit card again to get all the details for the online registration. I noticed my name was spelt wrong on the card as well.

I called the Halifax and asked them if they could change my name. They said I needed to visit a branch. Now whereas I have no intrinsic problem with this, it's going to be mighty inconvenient as I'll need to get someone to come with me, and there's all the problems with parking, etc.

Anyway I explained this to Halifax and told them I was more than willing to send in ID if needed. They said it was an issue of photographic ID. I said I'd be happy to send in passport, ID card, etc, all of which have my photo. Now the chances of someone faking all of this is minor seeing as they'd have to break into my house to do it. No go.

I have had a similar problem with banks in the past and have never been told that I needed to go there in person, particularly as I didn't have to do this when applying in the first place. Can I argue the case here or must I just continue to use the card with the incorrect name? I don't intend to use it much, just the odd purchase over the counter or online, to keep a good credit history.

Thanks.

patwa_2

Hello,

Sorted! I phoned up complaints in Halifax (01383 743354) and put the issue to the very helpful girl on the other end of the line. She could see right away from the screen the obvious mistake with missing out the final 'a' in the surname, and she's arranged for new cards to be sent out to me. I told her about the call centre guy telling me to go to a branch, and whereas I admit he was only doing his job, the girl even told me that there was absolutely no need to create such a big issue about it. It's simply a matter of adding an 'a' on the computer and generating an automatic card request.

Anyway, moral of the story is, if you speak to the right people and are calm and cool about it, everything falls into place nicely with no stress. The irony is, the complaints dept actually have less info about your account than the call centre people (remember the call centres are only there out of hours, otherwise you're fine with the main departments) yet they managed to fix the issue in no time at all.

H.

jimbo26

patwa wrote: »

Anway, moral of the story is, if you speak to the right people and are calm and cool about it, everything falls into place nicely with no stress.

Absolutely. You are more likely to the result you are after if you behave in a calm manner. Shouting, ranting and abusing call centre staff rarely gets the desired result.