UK BANKS QUIET ON SURNAME CHANGE AFTER CIVIL PARTNERSHIP

GAYnatter (http://www.gaynatter.co.uk) sent out enquiries to eight UK banks asking them for their policy on the procedures required when a same-sex couple enter into a civil partnership. After three weeks, disappointingly only two responses have been received.

[ClickPress, Wed Feb 01 2006] Now that Civil Partnerships have been legal for almost two months, the purpose of the exercise conducted by GAYnatter was to see how the leading UK banks would respond to the question on their policy regarding the change of surname after a civil partnership. Using the bank’s contact details, either filling out an online form, or corresponding by email, GAYnatter asked what their policy was.

Dave Parker, website co-founder commented “Bearing in mind that companies had 12 months to prepare for the start of civil partnerships after the bill attained Royal ascent, I am surprised at the lack of information forthcoming, and that GAYnatter only received two responses. These were from Abbey and NatWest. We did receive a response from HSBC in the form of application forms to switch banking services to them. This clearly shows that in the case of most banks, either they are completely unprepared for same-sex couples wanting to change their name on their financial accounts, or that they don’t feel the matter important enough to reply to GAYnatter. We did make it clear in the correspondence with each bank that GAYnatter was asking the question in order to make the information publicly available on the website. We appreciate that people can walk into their branch or phone the customer services department to ask for this information. However, if we at GAYnatter have had no response, would someone asking in person fair any better? Additionally, it’s a matter-of-fact issue when a man and woman get married that she can change her name easily on her records if she so wishes, so why is this information not being made more publicly available for same-sex partnerships?”.

Dave concluded “I think that this problem will not only be limited to banking and financial organisations. We know that most government departments are geared up ready for couples to change their details on passports, driving licenses etc. The question is, how many other companies are not ready, for example, utility companies, councils etc. It’s an issue of concern both with GAYnatter and also our friends at Pink Weddings (www.pinkweddings.biz) who have taken an interest in our findings. We can only hope that organisations start to form policies and making them publicly available. GAYnatter would welcome any organisation making its policy on change of name after a civil partnership available on the GAYnatter website, or indeed, any details which may be significant to same sex couples after a civil partnership ”.

An article regarding the lack of response can be found on the GAYnatter website (http://www.gaynatter.co.uk/LifeStyle/CivilPartnerships/tabid/184/ctl/Detail/mid/631/xmid/452/xmfid/15/Default.aspx). GAYnatter.co.uk is a website for gay, bisexual and curious men offering a host of information and facilities (for example chat rooms, forums and articles) at no cost to its users, with no subscription or registration fees.

For further information, please contact admin@gaynatter.co.uk

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