Don't blame the system, if you can't write your name properly on important documents

It is difficult to understand why people are so careless when it comes to writing their own name on important documents. By important documents I mean PAN card, voting card, driving license, passport and the list could go on. I am raising the issue because name mismatching happens a lot.

People carelessly fill in their name or let their agents do it, later complaining about inefficiencies in the system. This thought occurred to me last month when a friend of mine called me up for investing in mutual funds. She wanted to know about some best-performing funds and I suggested a few. But there was one problem: name mismatch. Her name in the bank account was spelt as REENA MATHUR (name changed) and her PAN card showed RINA MATHUR. She told me her agent made the mistake. Not surprisingly, it took her several weeks to open an account which typically takes a day or two.

And believe me, this is not the first time that I have encountered people with this problem. From my vegetable vendor to a close friend working in the financial sector, many have committed the same mistake. Financial service providers have also voiced their concern about how it leads to unnecessary delays. The reality is that people don't take this issue seriously. The attitude that merely a different spelling or the inclusion or exclusion of a middle name won't create much difference in their lives needs to be changed. The fact is it hurts, and it hurts the most when you want work to be done quickly.

Fake names are generally used when one wants to commit fraud. Otherwise it just leads to unnecessary headache. My advice is that when you are writing your name in important forms, whether it be to open a bank account or applying for a driving licence or PAN card, you should choose one consistent style and spelling of your name. If it is Reena Mathur, it should be Reena Mathur everywhere - not Rina Mathur or Rina Kumari Mathur. You should make sure that your name on your PAN card is not different from that in the bank account. Your voting card, passport, electricity and phone bills should all read the same.

Similarly, if you have added or changed your surname after marriage it is always good to have a marriage certificate endorsing your new name. Taking it as a base, you could apply for a change in PAN card, voting card and bank account. Signature mismatch is another area of concern as in many cases, the signature in the redemption form does not match the one in the application form. By adopting one style, you can avoid getting your money stuck for procedural reasons with an investment company.

If your name is not consistent, rectify it. Those who have to apply adopt one common style (you can go with the one in your high school certificate). Let's take our names seriously - in letter and in spirit.