MissnowMrs.com

sarahufl

Anyone use it to change their name? Worth it? Not worth it?

I keep seeing ads for it, but I don't know anyone who has actually tried it.

thisismynickname2

That service (or one exactly like it- not sure how many are out there) came highly recommended to me by a coworker.  I bought the service for $15 instead of $30 through an Amazon deal and look forward to using it.  

jenna8984

I have not used it but have seen many negative reviews. It supposedly fills your info into the forms for you, but you still need to bring those forms to all the places- social security office, DMV, your bank, etc. There is no way around sitting in those lines as they must be done in person.

SmileDamnit

I've never heard of it. FWIW, changing my name was suuuuuper easy and I would've been pissed to have wasted money on a service. 15 minutes at the SS office, and hour at the DMV the next day, and a quick trip to the bank for a new signature card. Boom. Easy peasy!

pinkshorts27

Seems like a rip off. Paying or something you can easily do yourself.

manateehugger

Yeah, I would never in a million years pay someone to fill out my name and other information into a form that I still have to submit in person.

thisismynickname2

The way my coworker described it to me, and seems accurate on the site I signed up for, is that you don't realize just how many places you have to contact to change your name: SSN and driver's license are obvious, but you've got household bills, mortgages, student loans, work records, passport, magazine subscriptions.  The sites help you with all the other random stuff.  As I type this, I'm even thinking about my FOID, library card, hotel reward programs....insurance....voter registration... Gah!

Sugargirl1019

Hmm.. I've gotten my pre-approval for my mortgage, and won't actually get the mortgage until the house is finished in December. Should I change my name or wait? Maybe I'll ask my mortgage consultant about if it will cause problems.

And omg. Nursing license. I heard that is a bitch to change. But I sign my name so much at work, it would be nice to actually use what I consider my name now!

Someone should post a sticky for things to remember to change your name for, and maybe even how to do it.

sarahufl

thisismynickname said:

The way my coworker described it to me, and seems accurate on the site I signed up for, is that you don't realize just how many places you have to contact to change your name: SSN and driver's license are obvious, but you've got household bills, mortgages, student loans, work records, passport, magazine subscriptions.  The sites help you with all the other random stuff.  As I type this, I'm even thinking about my FOID, library card, hotel reward programs....insurance....voter registration... Gah!

My one friend said her hotel programs and frequent flyer miles have been the toughest!

lyndausvi

Paying a house keeper to do work you can do yourself is money well spent.     Having a service change your name is not so much.

The big ones like SSN, driver's license and bank I had to do in person anyway.  Passport you still have to sign and send in new pictures. My TWIC card had to be done in person also.  Not sure how a service really saves you time.  

 I never changed my name on my mortgage, USCG captain's license (waited until it was time to renew) or library card.  Credit cards I just called.   Utilities, award programs and such I changed as I thought of them.  As long as they were being paid they didn't care.

Peaseblossom55

I wouldn't pay a fee to have this changed, like others have said you still have to wait in lines, and go to the places in person.  It hasn't been too hard to change things over either and I have a lot of accounts and insurance policies too. I still haven't made it over to social security yet.

mysticl

thisismynickname said:

The way my coworker described it to me, and seems accurate on the site I signed up for, is that you don't realize just how many places you have to contact to change your name: SSN and driver's license are obvious, but you've got household bills, mortgages, student loans, work records, passport, magazine subscriptions.  The sites help you with all the other random stuff.  As I type this, I'm even thinking about my FOID, library card, hotel reward programs....insurance....voter registration... Gah!

Some of those banks will not let you change your name.  I have a loan I took out prior to getting married.  They will not change my name on it, ever.  They will refer to me by my married name if I speak with them on the phone because they have that notation in their system but they will not change my name on any of the actual paperwork.  

FiancB

The worst part of changing your name is having to go these places in person and wait, and you still have to do that with the service. I really don't see the point. I haven't gotten around to smaller stuff like credit cards, but SS and DL are changed (if my license ever gets here, it's been like 3 weeks...)

WinstonsGirl

sarahufl said:

My one friend said her hotel programs and frequent flyer miles have been the toughest!

Yup.  I tried to change from a Miss to Mrs (I didn't change my name).  I've actually never gone by Miss, but DH and I are always split up seat wise on flights with Air Canada, and we were told it's cos we have different last names.  I figured changing to Mrs would help, but they want copies of my marriage certificate or something stupid.  I figured forget it, it's not worth it.  

AddieCake

Those services are stupid. Nobody can actually DO the stuff to change your name but you, and it is very simple to do.

thisismynickname2

mysticl said:

thisismynickname said:

The way my coworker described it to me, and seems accurate on the site I signed up for, is that you don't realize just how many places you have to contact to change your name: SSN and driver's license are obvious, but you've got household bills, mortgages, student loans, work records, passport, magazine subscriptions.  The sites help you with all the other random stuff.  As I type this, I'm even thinking about my FOID, library card, hotel reward programs....insurance....voter registration... Gah!

Some of those banks will not let you change your name.  I have a loan I took out prior to getting married.  They will not change my name on it, ever.  They will refer to me by my married name if I speak with them on the phone because they have that notation in their system but they will not change my name on any of the actual paperwork.  

Good to know, thanks! 

mysticl

thisismynickname said:

mysticl said:

thisismynickname said:

The way my coworker described it to me, and seems accurate on the site I signed up for, is that you don't realize just how many places you have to contact to change your name: SSN and driver's license are obvious, but you've got household bills, mortgages, student loans, work records, passport, magazine subscriptions.  The sites help you with all the other random stuff.  As I type this, I'm even thinking about my FOID, library card, hotel reward programs....insurance....voter registration... Gah!

Some of those banks will not let you change your name.  I have a loan I took out prior to getting married.  They will not change my name on it, ever.  They will refer to me by my married name if I speak with them on the phone because they have that notation in their system but they will not change my name on any of the actual paperwork.  

Good to know, thanks! 

The way I found out was that I was talking to them on the phone and asked what I needed to send them to change it.  They said nothing, they would just change it in the computer.  I was like "cool". Yeah it seemed too easy but this bank has always been really easy to deal with so I didn't think much of it.  My next statement came addressed to Mysticl Maidenname so I called them up to let them know the change hadn't gone through.  That's when they informed me they wouldn't change my name and the notation in the computer was just so they would address me properly on the phone.  I've been married over 3 years and still keep a copy of my marriage license handy to prove who I am because of residual things that come in with the old name.  

It's one of the reasons I wish I hadn't changed my name.  

CMGragain

Save your money.  You can do this yourself.

ShadeofGreen816

From what I read (have not done it myself) this is perhaps more valuable if you have licenses or certifications through work that may be a PITA to do yourself. The ones I've seen basically say that they can recommend the fastest way (email vs fax vs mail etc) to change these sorts of things and all the forms are in once place. 

Personally for me, I think it would be worth it, because I start grad school 4 days after returning from my wedding and my nursing license as well as some professional agencies I belong to will need to be changed.  And honestly, it's worth the $15 dollars not to have to go around and look for forms. But I think its a preference for sure.