I am having great difficulties at the moment getting my bank (Nationwide) back in the UK to change my bank details to my new name now that I'm married. I live in Thailand and in July got married to a Thai. I contacted Nationwide and they orignally told me that I should send them a photocopy of my marriage certificate, photocopy of translation, photocopy of old and new passport (showing name change). However now they say their legal team need to see my original Thai marriage certificate. Obviously I am not very keen to part with any original documents - a) because I don't trust the Thai postal service to get them to and from the UK safely and I need them with my for my O visa application. Has anyone had any experience of this - what did your bank in the UK require? I've read on the British Embassy website that a 'sworn translation' can be used for legal purposes in the UK, but what exactly is a sworn translation? I have a translation signed and stamped by a translation bureau, which was acceptable by the British Embassy for the purposes of changing my name on my passport. Is this the same thing? If so do I have a case to argue to Nationwide that this is a legal document and they should accept it? I just think it's ridiculous that Nationwide want to see my original certificate when they won't be able to understand a word of it!

Edited October 20, 200619 yr by Dolphin

I don't have any experience with UK but the legal translation that has been then registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok should be legal for any use in the UK in my understanding.

If the above is not acceptable you should have two copies (husband and wife) so you could use a courier service if you don't trust registered mail.

Or send one copy registered mail & ask the Nationwide to post it to a UK relative who you trust to keep it safe.

I had a similar situation but with an Australian bank, which also wanted original marriage certificate. I also refused to send it for the same reasons and eventually presented it when I happened to be visiting the country. Actually, I still have one Thai bank account that I forgot about in my maiden name (have been married 10yrs.) that's now starting to look interesting thx to accumulated interest.

I would not under any circumstances sent my original documents off unattached to me to anyone, anywhere. In any event, the bank won't be able to read it unless in the unlikely event they have thai readers on staff.

Nationwide

Here it says they only need copies of documents.

I have never shown my marriage cert. to any UK bank . They have only needed to see my passport (in married name). It helps if you have some other docs. such as bank statements from other banks in married name already or maybe a letter from soemwhere well known such as an accountant/lawyer, addressed to you in your married name.

But I have always done this stuff in person. Personally I find UK banks impossible to deal with by telephone , fax or mail. I think that might be more than half the problem.

Nationwide

Here it says they only need copies of documents.

I have never shown my marriage cert. to any UK bank . They have only needed to see my passport (in married name). It helps if you have some other docs. such as bank statements from other banks in married name already or maybe a letter from soemwhere well known such as an accountant/lawyer, addressed to you in your married name.

But I have always done this stuff in person. Personally I find UK banks impossible to deal with by telephone , fax or mail. I think that might be more than half the problem.

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately when Nationwide say 'copies' on their website they actually mean original copies. I have spoken to a number of people at Nationwide now both at branch level and head office and it seems they will only accept my original marriage certificate, even though it's in Thai. Even a legal translation is not good enough for them. The cost of sending it by courier is rather excessive so I think my only option is to wait until I'm in the UK at Christmas and go in person armed with my original certicate and old/new passport.

I don,t think it is unreasonable of the N.Wide to insist on originals ( copies ) due i,m sure to security reasons.

My local amphur allowed me to purchase an additional set of the original documents ( total 3 ) so i could leave one in the U.K. with my family should they be required for such occasions.

I also leave an official translation from the Thai M.O.F.A by the way.

However this does not help yourself unless you can go back to them and try for an additional set.

I have sent things via " Receipt of International Letter-post Item " after a post office official told me in his opinion this was more secure than EMS.

I have never had any problems and all things sent have arrived safely.

The service is similar to the U.K,s registered post system and every stage of the journey is signed and accounted for.

In my humble opinion the N.Wide do not intentionally try to be awkward and i feel that they have been advised to follow this proceedure after due consideration be the legal team.

This is in all of our interest at the end of the daydue to scamming and internet fraud ect.

Do you have internet banking by the way as you can usually come to some sort of arrangement via the secure messaging service it provides.

This reminds me of when i want to do a swift transaction where i apply on line but have to print the application off and send it off after signing it, even under these strict security circumstances.

I,ve always done it via the above method and no problems at all to report.

As in your case they explained to me that it is done in customer interest for security and they must have a copy with the original signature on it.

Imagine someone posing as yourself and doing exactly what you wish to genuinely do, how easy they could change your details and clear your accounts out under the newly submitted I.D ect.

This is an easy thing to do in the modern tech we live in as we all agree.

Please do not read this as negative and unsympathetic, indeed i am very sympathetic and wish i could assist you personally.

I,m just trying to empathise with the situation and offer possible reasons to put a positive side to your problem.

By the way do you know of anyone you can trust who is going to the U.K. and can act as a courier for you.

They could send it registered while they are there and then bring it back for you .

Just another bit of imput for a solution.

Good luck anyway Dolphin

marshbags

Edited October 21, 200619 yr by marshbags

I don,t think it is unreasonable of the N.Wide to insist on originals ( copies ) due i,m sure to security reasons.

My local amphur allowed me to purchase an additional set of the original documents ( total 3 ) so i could leave one in the U.K. with my family should they be required for such occasions.

I also leave an official translation from the Thai M.O.F.A by the way.

However this does not help yourself unless you can go back to them and try for an additional set.

I have sent things via " Receipt of International Letter-post Item " after a post office official told me in his opinion this was more secure than EMS.

I have never had any problems and all things sent have arrived safely.

The service is similar to the U.K,s registered post system and every stage of the journey is signed and accounted for.

In my humble opinion the N.Wide do not intentionally try to be awkward and i feel that they have been advised to follow this proceedure after due consideration be the legal team.

This is in all of our interest at the end of the daydue to scamming and internet fraud ect.

Do you have internet banking by the way as you can usually come to some sort of arrangement via the secure messaging service it provides.

This reminds me of when i want to do a swift transaction where i apply on line but have to print the application off and send it off after signing it, even under these strict security circumstances.

I,ve always done it via the above method and no problems at all to report.

As in your case they explained to me that it is done in customer interest for security and they must have a copy with the original signature on it.

Imagine someone posing as yourself and doing exactly what you wish to genuinely do, how easy they could change your details and clear your accounts out under the newly submitted I.D ect.

This is an easy thing to do in the modern tech we live in as we all agree.

Please do not read this as negative and unsympathetic, indeed i am very sympathetic and wish i could assist you personally.

I,m just trying to empathise with the situation and offer possible reasons to put a positive side to your problem.

By the way do you know of anyone you can trust who is going to the U.K. and can act as a courier for you.

They could send it registered while they are there and then bring it back for you .

Just another bit of imput for a solution.

Good luck anyway Dolphin

marshbags

Thanks. I do completely understand why Nationwide are asking for originals. The reason I'm frustrated with the whole situation is because they originally told me photocopies would be sufficient and also because I don't see how my original Thai marriage certificate proves anything unless they have a staff member who can read Thai. I could understand if they were insisting on a legal translation, but they're not - they actually said this wasn't sufficient. However you talk about an offical translation from the Thai MOFA - I've not heard of this. Is it easy/cheap to get? And is it legally binding? I have a translation from one of those translation shops near the British embassy, but it would be useful to have a more 'official' translation if it's easy enough to get. I might also try and look into getting and additional copy of my marriage certificate from the Amphur office - that could be an option.

Hiya Dolphin,

I had to do this for a service at the British embassy relating to a birth certificate translation and re marriage at the local Amphurs.

Any of the translation offices would do it for you and it,s not to expensive

Mine was less than a thousand for everything including the translation.

I used the one at the left side at the bottom of the steps of the bridge crossing over onto Wireless Road and it was all sorted in half a day.

The mans name in the office i used was Khun Virichai, a very helpful guy and genuine.

You will need to check with the N,Wide first to see if this is acceptable.

It is offficial and is stamped by the foreign affairs for authenticity of course.

Suggest the original copy is Thai and this is an official governmental document translated into English.

Any of the translation offices should use the translation you already have and you will only pay for the additional service.

You could also get one of your husbands relatives to get you a spare set of docs from the Amphurs should this be the only option left.

If it is suitable to your personal situation of course.

I hope this helps you further but again, please check the above is acceptable first please.

Incidently the foriegn affairs doc. is handy for other situations as well don,t forget so it,s not a wasted exercise.

marshbags

Edited October 21, 200619 yr by marshbags

Actually I find it absolutely amazing that a bank won't accept a passport as valid proof of a name change!

Actually I find it absolutely amazing that a bank won't accept a passport as valid proof of a name change!

They will accept a passport, but only if it's the original presented in person. A colour photocopy is not sufficient, which I guess is understandable. Nationwide's issue was that everything I sent them was a photocopy and they require at least one thing to be an original. I'm going back to the UK for Christmas so I think I'll probably wait to sort it out then. It's just a bit tricky sometimes when my credit card has one name and my passport another! That's the only reason I was keen to get my name changed sooner rather than later.