Moving Your Identity With You

Old Life To New

Moving home is an exciting experience, but having to change your address and contact details is not so much fun! To make the whole process more bearable, try starting a few weeks before you leave; this also allows time for any new paperwork and contracts to come through. Many companies offer a relatively pain-free way method of moving your identity via the internet, cutting down on the time, cost and frustration of calling or posting. Make the most of the Post Office – it may be worth taking out a redirection service which will deliver your mail to your new address. Some services will send on your new details to companies with whom you have magazine subscriptions, health clubs and other groups.

Bank On It

It’s essential that you have seamless access to banking services during the process of your move. Contact your bank a few weeks in advance to discuss how best to change over your details – you may have to pop in to a local branch in order to complete paperwork. If you need to set up an account with a different bank in your new town, find out how to do this so that the account is active before closing any other accounts. It’s wise to make withdraw a reasonable sum of cash to have on hand for any unforeseen little extras needed for the days before and after the move.

Healthy Option

Ensuring that you have access to good medical and dental services in your new community can be a worry if you turn up unannounced at a practice. Ring around potential new surgeries and ask whether they offer the services you require. Before leaving your old home, ask for copies of any medical and dental records, including x-rays and test results, so that your new doctor or dentist can get a good idea of your medical history and doesn’t have to start from scratch. Remember to order repeat prescriptions of current medications to avoid running out before you have a chance to visit the new practice. Once you’ve settled in, take the family for a check-up to help you to get to know your new GP and dentist.

School’s Out

If your kids are changing schools, try to visit the new school to make them feel more settled about the situation. Ask for their existing records and test results to be sent to their new school before they start so that new teachers have the opportunity to plan ahead.

Fight Fraud

There are so many companies and organizations who need to be contacted before you can make the move to your new home that identity fraud may not be on your list of priorities. However, the misery and financial implications of having your identity stolen and used to open fraudulent bank accounts and credit agreements is the very last thing you want to have to face! Any old bills, bank statements and other financial paperwork which you don’t need to keep should be shredded carefully to avoid prying eyes.