The Issue
Client has chosen to live their life in their acquired gender which is male; he changed his name through deed poll and presented the deed poll document to his online bank for them to change his name details on his bank account.
The client provided the deed poll document with his name change on it to the bank but they refused to change his name on his account. The bank requested that he obtain a letter from his GP/Consultant for them to confirm he has gender dysphoria. The client found this to be extremely disheartening and upsetting.
The client came to the Helpline wanting to know what more he can do.
EASS Advice and Support:
We advised the client on the Equality Act 2010, that transgender is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and the protection applies to persons who are proposing to undergo, are undergoing, or have undergone a process to reassign their sex, therefore that a person does not have to have undergone surgery to be protected.
We advised the client that the deed poll document should be enough for him to have all official documents changed into his new name and title of his chosen acquired gender which includes bank account details, however the document does not change his gender just his name.
We advised the client it could therefore be argued as less favourable treatment because of gender reassignment that the Bank will not accept this document to change his name, and that they would require official information from his GP stating he has gender dysphoria.
Advised the client on potential direct discrimination because of transgender, that he could possibly argue he is being treated less favourably (the banks refusal to change his details), because of him being transgender.
The client contacted the bank outlining our advice and they not only agreed to change his contact details, which has now been done; they provided £3000 compensation. The client is satisfied with this outcome.