Forums > General > Living, Working, Retiring

karenanron

Oct 20, 2011, 5:53 PM

Post #1 of 5 (1103 views)

Shortcut

What Name To Use

Can't Post | Private Reply

I am currently changing my name on my credit cards and car registration to match my passport before our big move. My wife asked me tonight about her middle name and I don't have an answer, so I thought I'd throw it out to all you smart people here. All our paperwork shows her name as Karen J but her passport shows Karen Jean. Do we have to change things to show her full middle name? I have always used just Ron but my passport reads Ronald, so I'm changing everything to my full name. Your advice on my wifes name will be much appreciated.

chinagringo

Oct 20, 2011, 7:22 PM

Post #2 of 5 (1077 views)

Shortcut

Re: [karenanron] What Name To Use

Can't Post | Private Reply

In ten plus years of traveling Mexico, we have never had a problem with using first and last names or first name, middle initial and last name on a credit card.

The only time we ever had a problem is kind of a funny story. I had writen: "SEE ID" in the signature stripe on a new credit card I had received just prior to a Mexico trip. We had dinner one night it Puerta Vallarta and I used that card to pay the bill. I signed the receipt but they had held the card for comparison. Next thing I knew, I had the restaurant manager and the waiter back at the table questioning why my signature didn't match with: SEE ID. Only time that I have ever had to produce identification to prove who I was for a credit card purchase!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

karenanron

Oct 21, 2011, 7:35 AM

Post #3 of 5 (1015 views)

Shortcut

Re: [chinagringo] What Name To Use

Can't Post | Private Reply

That's a good story. Thanks for the reply. I read on one of these forums that the names had to match your passport. But like everyone on here syas, TIM and just because ten people doit one way doesn't mean I will get away with it. Then again, I'm getting old and I have a younger wife, so I need to make sure she doesn't have problems after I"m gone.

RickS

Oct 21, 2011, 9:13 AM

Post #4 of 5 (987 views)

Shortcut

Re: [karenanron] What Name To Use

Can't Post | Private Reply

The one case that I am aware of where the names must match is on your payment of the Temporary Vehicle Import.... if one pays the deposit required for that temporary import with a credit/debit card, the name on that card must match the name on the title (or whatever evidence one gives for ownership) of the vehicle. I have heard that it must match exactly..... i.e. the title cannot say Johnathan Doe and the credit card say Johnny Doe.

Vichil

Oct 21, 2011, 10:11 AM

Post #5 of 5 (971 views)

Shortcut

Re: [karenanron] What Name To Use

Can't Post | Private Reply

I live in Mexico full time and my advice to you is to be consistent with your names and have them the same as the passport especially when applying with banks, immigration, insurrance, deeds. contracts, drivers license, utiliies etc and anything official in Mexico. Be vigilent It is extremely important ,fight anyone trying to shorten or change anything,.

I made a major mistake with my names when I got married in the US I took on my husband name and was not consistent with my first names because I have 3 long first names some of them were dropped and it is a big mess.
When I came to Mexico I had to go by my French passport names which are my paternal name followed by ep for spouse and married name.
So on the paperwork from the States I have one name and on the paperwork in Mexico I have another name, it has been a true nightmare even made worst if possible due to the length of all of my names. Asll the names do not fit on the official formats even in Mexico and the various institutions dropped whatever..
Be very sure when doing any kind of papers in Mexico that all your names agree with your passport, it is the way to simplify things.

Have all your applications for official papers like insurrance, driver´s license, bank accounts etc be the same or you will be sorry.
I would not go to a lot of trouble about my US papers but I would make sure that anything I fill out in Mexico agrees with my passport.
I just went through two days of hell buying a bunch of bus tickets with my husband and my own debit card sas I used them to buy via Internet. Some Mexican sites do not acccept just one last name so I could not use my husband card, one of my card shows my second name with the ep in front of it and that was a problem as it is not recognized by the Mexican system, finally my last card went through with two names only.
Go by your passport and do not let anybody deviate from it including immigration. Nothing you can do about the two last names but call the companies direct and buy via phone which can create another set of problems if you need facturas.

Call yourself whatever you chose but on official papers go by the passport names you will save yourself potential headaches.