NSW What is Proof of Alias, Known As Name or Stage Name?

[star1]

Hello,

I am trying to find out for a client what would be considered 'proof' of an Alias, known as or stage name. The person has been well known across Australia for the last 50 + years by his stage name and his real name is well known as well. Evidently his stage name was listed at the back of his Australian passport a few passports ago, but is not now.

The only reason why this has come up is that his bank of 30 plus years has now queered it.

Nearly 30 years ago the bank opened a company account using both his stage and real names as director and issued him with an Eftpos card and a credit card in his stage name. These cards have been reissued many times since then.

He recently went to the bank to get a pin for his credit card (stage name) and was asked for ID. He showed his real name ID and posters and CDs etc with his picture and stage name on it as well as bios with both names. He told them to Google his stage name to see in many places it mentions his stage and real names and that is is obvious he is who he says he is..

What should he do under Australian Law to get this bank to allow him to keep this card, for convenience sake, in his stage name?

He says it comes up for renewal again in December.

I reiterate it has been reissued many times over the years.

Thank you

 

[Rod]

Don't know the answer to your question, but with identity theft becoming more prevalent in recent years I can see why the bank is tightening its policies.

 

[Tim W]

Are you his manager, or his accountant?

 

[star1]

Hi,

Friend and agent.

 

[Tim W]

1. You are on the right track by starting to deal with this now,
   while you still have a few weeks lead time.
   
   
2. Really, this is a matter for his manager rather than his agent
   (unless of course you are both).
   
   
3. When you say a "company account" - do you mean an actual corporation,
   or a business account for a sole trader?
   
   
4. The bank is quite within its rights to change the conditions
   under which it provides accounts, cards, and credit.
   And they have no obligation to keep doing it
   the same way they always have.
   
   
5. It's possible that the bank sees the stage name as some kind of "phantom" person,
   who does not in fact exist - as distinct from, say, a brand name.
   On that basis, I can see how they would be reluctant to issue cards etc in that name.
   
   
6. You may find it helpful to sit down with a branch manager and discuss it.
   Apart from a manager having more authority than your average bank teller,
   it's... unseemly... for a public figure to be standing in at a tellers window
   debating business matters in public.
   As for debating it with call centre kiddies in another country,
   I doubt that that will be helpful.
   
   
7. Some banks handle the... complexities... of business life for public figures better than others.
   If they don't want to play, change banks.

 

[star1]

Many thanks for your time and answer.

What if he took out a Business Name of his stage name ? Could that give some proof?

Maybe he should contact the legal section of the bank.

 

[Tim W]

1. The legal department of the bank exists for the bank, not the customer.
   
   
2. You need to remember that in "bank-think", one person with
   two bona fide names is quite an anomaly.
   
   
3. As to specific advice about business names etc,
   I am limited to generalities here by both the rules of this Board
   and because to get into too much detail means possibly
   identifying the public figure who is your client,
   and that would not be appropriate.
   
   
4. I suggest doing Item 6 in my earlier post before anything else.

 

[star1]

Once again, many thanks..

Sidney