Transgender and credit - Canada

[canadaftm]

I have been fullt transitioned since 2012 as an ftm. I have completed my top surgery, been on testosterone for over 5 years. I have legally changed my name/gender marker and had both our credit reporting agencies update my name. All is good in life and I never have any issues living as myself.

Until it comes time for anyone to access my credit file which has my old name as an alias. I changed banks a few years ago because it seems that foreign based  customer service representatives would be blunt about asking why I have a different female and male name when confirming identity questions. Anyway after switching to a bank with a Canadian call centre, I havent had anyone ask.

Until now.

First, I am self employed as a contractor and I have used a website called Homestars as my main advertiser for 8 years and have collected over 200 reviews. Recently, Homestars decided to add a Verification program to let clients know the identity of the contractor has been verified through a background check that consits of a criminal and credit report, where the results are sent to Homestars. Stupid considering all major Canadian cities require a police background check for contractors serving residential clients before a business license is issued. In Canada we have a required vulnerability check for anyone working around the elderly or children.

Currently the Homestars program is voluntary, but all my direct competitors have done the check, except for me, I know from the forms that my female name will come up. I cant tell you how much I hate even hearing that name when dealing with credit yet alone having this information sent to an advertiser. Homestars has yet to respond (I used a generic email) as to what exactly they get as information and 1) do they post 'alias' on our profiles or 2). Will this check be required in the future.

I have no doubt that many of you understand that feeling when your old identity is desovered or questioned through your credit file or a background check thats reviewed by complete strangers.

Surely there must be something we can do that seals that information? Or there is something we can start here in Canada and other countries to protect our privacy from non-law enforcement.

Personally, I dont know why Homestars took this route as a company owner background check means nothing if the owner will just hire anyone. Feeling very Nnoyed and frustrated as I have spent years building a repuation with them and honestky me being transgender is none of theirs or my clients business.

I aslo should add that I am 47 and although I knew I was trans in my 20's it took 20 years for me to finally transition, and now that I am 'free', that old name dragging me back is heart breaking.

[Angela Drakken]

That's pretty messed up dude.
As a trades person in Canada (Ontario) I find this particularly troublesome, as all of my trade qualifications, Ontario College of the Trades and apprenticeship history, bank information, and whatever else is apparently still going to be flagged with my assigned name at birth.. I suppose just hanging up on people or refusing to answer calls directed to the wrong person wont serve me well either?

You'd think such a 'socially evolved' and 'forward thinking' country would have this right, but we don't..

[Kendra]

Hello CanadaFTM, welcome to Susan's!

I live south of the border and recently changed all my legal ID.  As I am updating all accounts I plan to try the simple approach first, if that doesn't work I'll send the court order with a cover letter requesting the update.  Online is obviously easier than snail-mail but I am not going to accept ignorance... if necessary I'll be escalating with certified mail until they get it right.  Others here will have better advice based on more experience - a few of our members transitioned in the 1970s.

My other thought on name change and gender marker is - socially we are all pretty sure which names are associated with gender but I am not aware of that being legally defined in any country, fortunately.  If an organization or site doesn't have a medical or legal necessity to identify your gender it is literally none of their business.  My previous name Ken could have been legally female, and Kendra could be legally male. 

This was your first post so I'll add information we provide to new members.  Susan's is a unique place so we ask everyone to please read through the Terms of Service and other information to save you time.  As a moderator I had to edit one word in your post.  I appreciate you sort of cloaked the spelling but we avoid using that particular word here. 

Things that you should read

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I am glad you joined, and thank you for posting.  When you get the chance it would be great if you can post an introduction in the Introductions Board.

Welcome!

Kendra

[Yakayla]

I can understand your frustration. But from a business standpoint, I doubt they are asking if whether your even transgender or not. You go through paperwork and notice that the names don't match. It could be an error. Someone trying to use a fake name. I'm mean there is tons of reasons to check, and no reason not to.

You are transgender, and will always be for the rest of your life. There is nothing to be ashamed about that fact. Worrying about people finding out after you have transitioned can put you in the same mind-set as not coming out in the first place. Like something is wrong with you or you don't deserve to be who you are. Who cares if people find out. It's gonna happen no matter how much you try to hide it. Someone, somehow is going to get information about your past. Just embrace who you are, like you have before.

[bobbisue]

     I totally agree being trans is your business no one else's It should be your choice if you want people to know

   bobbisue

[tgchar21]

In the U.S. it's much the same - there is often no way to remove a former name once you've used it to obtain credit. (That's one of the reasons I gave this recommendation to a parent of a transgender teen - get the name change before your transgender child will have their own credit history, etc., even if you can't change the gender marker at the same time.)