Billing Info

[JR15]

Hello,

Just curious, how important is it to put legal name on billing info when purchasing online and using debit card?
My legal name is on the debit card. But there's two different sections where it asks to 'Bill My Order To' (which
requires name (I put my preferred name), address and phone number) then the other section asks for debit card
number (which requires no name..). So could I just use preferred name?

Sorry if that was confusing.

I ordered last time using my preferred name, but used a prepaid visa gift card so there wasn't necessarily a name
on the card. Just unsure if there'll be a problem when using preferred name then they see on the debit card another
name. Unless they don't even look at that, I don't know.

[KamTheMan]

if it's a trans-friendly site, i would use my legal name just in case there's a billing issue. if they have to verify something, you'd have to talk to someone and verify your name and info regardless so.. yea.

[JR15]

Nothing trans-related. But alright, thanks Kyle.

[King Malachite]

To be safe I say go with your legal name.  When I was ordering my Mr. Limpy online I had a prepaid visa and wanted to so bad use my preferred name.  However just to be safe I went with my legal name.  Also if it's like a package that's delivered to you and you aren't there and someone who lives there says they don't know someone by your preferred name then that wouldn't be good.

[Sauce]

I'd say go with your legal name on the billing info. I usually just put my preferred name in the shipping info part. Your bank will see that the name on the billing info doesn't match the card holders name and if they're strict they might need further authentication. Plus if you put your preferred name in shipping and legal name in billing, your preferred name will still be on the package. I've done it quite a few times now.

[JR15]

I was thinking of sending flowers to someone so I guess my question really is will the billing info name be disclosed when the recipient receives the flowers? I'm sure it wouldn't. Just want to make sure.

I suppose I can get another prepaid visa gift card and do it that way.

[Kreuzfidel]

Maybe I'm the odd one out, but I've always ordered things in my preferred name and no one questioned the different name on the card.  Most of the places I saw that were otherwise inclined stated when the name needs to match the card.

[JR15]

Good to know kreuzfidel.

How about writing/mailing personal letters to other people like penpals, there wont be a conflict there would it? Besides maybe a return letter to my preferred name and um not home and it's trashed, but otherwise would that be ok?

[Paul]

If it's anything like my bank/debit card I HAD to use my legal name for the Billing To part because it was based on my bank account records.  It had to match what was on the account.

[Logan1986]

You might want to be careful with using your preferred name on large items. I had to pick up a package from the post office shortly before I changed my name. They wouldn't let me pick it up because I did not have ID that matched the name on the box. Luckily I was due in court to change it a few days later.

[MrTesto]

Is there a possibility of using initials? I don't know if your preferred name has the same initials as the name on your financial records. But maybe that's an option. Order however you want, and then the ship-to address can have your initials. I have heard that paypal is not great for trans folks, however, as far as revealing legal names.

For things being sent elsewhere: I would say that if you would be able to have one person pay for it (credit card) on behalf of another person, that could be an indicator of whether one's legal name would be disclosed. For flowers, find a place that will let you write the card out. The recipient might still be able to see the invoice, but you can ask about that. Instead of using a huge online service, find a local place and talk with them.

[Adio]

Billing info=as it appears on the card.

Shipping info=whatever you want.

[Kreuzfidel]

About correspondence, I got a P.O. Box at the post office - I had to use my legal name to get it, but I had all correspondence sent to that address using my preferred name and used it as a return address.