What's the worst penalty? name change

[Mr new]

I'm a little worried about my cousin and hope you guy's could help me out with some advice.

What is the worst penalty someone could receive who changed their name by deed poll, but failed to inform everyone about it? Meaning creditors she owed money to?
And government benefits departments.

(Please note she has no intentions of committing fraud and would not be making any financial gains she wouldn't otherwise be entitled to). I just want to be clear on what her worst possible penalty could be


Thanks!

[des8]

Re: What's the worst penalty? name change

By failing to notify all persons (including creditors and gov. depts) she MAY be committing fraud, the penalty for which is a fine &/or a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years.
However if she does not have the intention and is making no financial gain, I doubt there will be any charges

[seduraed]

Re: What's the worst penalty? name change

I would also write to any relevant govt. departments and let them know.

[des8]

Re: What's the worst penalty? name change

There is a list of people to notify of name change here: https://deedpolloffice.com/change-name/who-to-tell

[Mr new]

Re: What's the worst penalty? name change

Wow up to ten years! Scary! So what about if she is specifically applying for a mortgage in her new name but just forgets to inform the finance company of her previous name?

Is that still considered to be fraud? And could that still come with a prison sentence? Even if she has pure intentions to continue using her new name for the rest of her life but just wants to start fresh.

That would seem very harsh if she ever got sent to prison for that

[Crazy council]

Re: What's the worst penalty? name change

If they get a fraud marker against her ( by anyone in the chain noticing ) , as well as any legal concerns, she will not get any other type of banking facilitys whilst the marker is on there. Even when they are wrong, there extremity hard to sort out.

[Amethyst]

Re: What's the worst penalty? name change

Is her credit file ( in her old name ) okay or does she have a poor credit score ? ie is that the reason she doesn't want to tell the Mortgage company her new name ? She'll have to provide utility bills/ bank statements etc and declare any debt so she would be committing fraud if she left things out.

It is likely something will link her old name to her new name ( address / a creditor etc) - there is really no point 'forgetting to tell' the mortgage company as it will come out and when it does then there could be potential fraud action and Cifas markers against her which will seriously bugger up her chances of getting any credit in the future and certainly cock up chances of getting another mortgage.

[Kati]

Re: What's the worst penalty? name change

I know that when I changed MY surname (back in 2003/4) I had a hard time getting anything afterward ... the bank wouldn't accept an ORIGINAL dp cert as proof of ID let alone a copy. And seeing as I had to change things like my passport, it made no difference to the DCAs etc... anyway

[Mr new]

Re: What's the worst penalty? name change

Do all mortgage companies ALWAYS ask if you've had previous names? And could she still get into trouble if they don't actually ask her if she's had previous names?

[wales01man]

Re: What's the worst penalty? name change

Excuse my ignorance but how can anyone get a Mortgage without a credit history and I suspect this would be in the original name and not transferable into another name

[Crazy council]

Re: What's the worst penalty? name change

Do all mortgage companies ALWAYS ask if you've had previous names?

since around 2002, and especially since 2010, everyone in the chain ( solicitors, agents, brokers, ) has to sign off all documents agreeing that there is no other information, and to confirm they have checked everything is legitimate.

And could she still get into trouble if they don't actually ask her if she's had previous names?

All the applications will ask if they have ever been known by any previous name.