Name discrepancy between referencing and ID?
1:53 PM, 26th February 2019, 7 years ago
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A potential tenant has passed referencing, but the referencing process has flagged up a discrepancy in the name on their documents.
The applicant has given the name Wilkinson which was used to pass referencing. However the name on the passport and driving licence is showing Wilkison!
The birth certificate and payslips do however show the referenced name Wilkinson.
My question is do I proceed with them as tenants and if so which name should go on the contract?
Help please!
Susan
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Member Since February 2011 - Comments: 3453 - Articles: 286
1:58 PM, 26th February 2019, About 7 years ago
Hi Susan,
I am only guessing but I would think the name was a mistake on the DL and Passport application and not noticed. How old are these documents?
Have you pointed this out yet to the potential tenant?
However under Right to Rent rules you must provide evidence that you have identified the tenant and they have the right to stay in the country. For your own protection I would not risk this until the documents are corrected.
I know it is an offence to have the incorrect address on a Driving Licence, but I have never heard of a misspelled name before.
Member Since May 2017 - Comments: 31
7:50 PM, 26th February 2019, About 7 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Neil Patterson at 26/02/2019 – 13:58
Hi Neil, the documents are approximately 6 years old so I’m not sure why it hasn’t been rectified before! They have now sent off to change the name on the driving licence so hopefully this will be back soon and will be enough for the right to rent check along with birth certificate?
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 233
8:13 AM, 27th February 2019, About 7 years ago
As a minimum, I would insist on their passport being corrected.as well as the driving licence.
I have been doing referencing for many years (Long before I was a Landlord) and this is exactly what people do to hide their financial past. It is quite clever in that usually, if noticed, it can be dismissed as a silly error. However a passport in the wrong name is likely to stop you flying so I would be careful here. Reference again in the passport name and see what comes up.
Member Since October 2015 - Comments: 49
8:37 AM, 27th February 2019, About 7 years ago
I would be wondering how their employer did their checks as it shoud have been picked up before this,,,,
Member Since March 2016 - Comments: 254
8:47 AM, 27th February 2019, About 7 years ago
HMRC have had Mrs Hamish’s name wrong for 20 years or more. We tried to correct it. Still wrong.
How can a passport be wrong?
Member Since July 2014 - Comments: 128
9:01 AM, 27th February 2019, About 7 years ago
What about address on driving license? Should be same as on bank statement, which will have name used for referencing. It is a legal requirement to update driving license with current address.
Member Since May 2017 - Comments: 31
9:16 AM, 27th February 2019, About 7 years ago
I have done credit checks in both names at the current and previous family home address and nothing has come up. Bank statements are at current address all squeaky clean with wage going in rent going out. Got employers ref and landlord ref through referencing company. Not sure why previous landlord didn’t have a problem with this! Employers had to see the birth certificate and they are going to provide a letter of attestation.
Member Since September 2014 - Comments: 166
9:33 AM, 27th February 2019, About 7 years ago
Apart from the need to prove their Right to Rent, using a variation of their name is a common way to commit fraud because the incorrect spelling doesn’t match existing records. I’m shocked referencing just flagged it as a discrepancy – there’s no question it should have failed. I wouldn’t use the same referencing service again and I wouldn’t give them a tenancy until I was certain it’s resolved.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 233
4:51 PM, 27th February 2019, About 7 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Hamish McBloggs at 27/02/2019 – 08:47
I hope Mrs Hamish hasn’t needed to pay tax then!
Member Since May 2017 - Comments: 31
8:39 PM, 27th February 2019, About 7 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Simon M at 27/02/2019 – 09:33
Yes it was Open rent, I’m not impressed!