Why Some Providers Charge More (And What You're Paying For)
If you have been Googling "Deed Polls," you have probably noticed something confusing. The prices are all over the place.
You can find "free" templates, online services like ours for under £20, and high-street solicitors charging £300+.
Crucially, they all produce the same legal outcome. So, what exactly are you paying for? And is the expensive option actually "better"?
Here is the honest truth about where your money goes with each option.
Option 1: The "Free" Template (DIY)
Cost: £0 (plus ink and paper)
What you get: A Microsoft Word file you print yourself.
Technically, you can type up your own Deed Poll on a napkin. If the wording is correct, it is legal. However, the problem isn't the law—it's the bureaucracy.
The Risk: Rejection
Bank clerks and Passport Office staff are trained to look for "official" documents. If you hand them a piece of standard printer paper that looks like you typed it up in your bedroom, they often panic and reject it.
You aren't paying for legality; you are paying to avoid an argument with a stubborn manager at HSBC.
Option 2: The Solicitor (£150 - £300+)
Cost: £150 - £300+
What you get: A meeting, a cup of coffee, and a document on letterheaded paper.
Many people go to a solicitor because they assume it is "safer." In reality, a solicitor uses the exact same wording we do.
Why is it so expensive? You are paying for their time. Solicitors charge hourly rates to cover their expensive offices and secretaries. For a simple name change, this is usually overkill.
Option 3: The "Enrolled" Service (£50 - £100+)
Cost: £50 court fee + Solicitor fees
What you get: Your name published in a newspaper (The Gazette).
Some providers charge more because they are selling you an "Enrolled" Deed Poll. This involves registering your name with the Royal Courts of Justice.
Do you need this? Almost certainly not. It is slower (takes months), more expensive, and—crucially—it puts your home address on the permanent public internet record. Most people pay extra for this without realizing it actually gives them less privacy.
Option 4: Professional Online Service (Us)
Cost: £19.49
What you get: Speed, presentation, and guarantee.
We sit in the "sweet spot" between risky DIY and expensive solicitors. When you pay for our service, you are paying for three specific things:
1. The "Official Look"
We print your Deed Poll on heavy, high-grade paper with an official seal. When you slide this across the counter at the bank, it looks authoritative. This eliminates 99% of rejections instantly.
2. The "Human Check"
We manually review every application. If you have accidentally misspelled "Elizabeth" or chosen a name that the Passport Office bans (like a trademark), we catch it before you print it, saving you the £88 passport application fee.
3. Duplicate Originals
If you go to a solicitor, you get one document. If you want copies, they charge you for "Certified Copies."
With us, you can order 5 or 10 "Duplicate Originals" for a few pounds extra. This allows you to update your Passport, Driving Licence, and Bank all in the same week, rather than waiting for one document to be posted back and forth.
Summary: Don't Overpay, But Don't Under-Prepare
You don't need to spend £300 to change your name. But trying to do it for free often costs more in the long run when your passport application is rejected due to "poor quality evidence."
Get the balance right. Guaranteed acceptance for £19.49.
