Changing name on a whim

I refer to the letter An Identity Crisis (January 30). I have the same problem. It is true that I am familiarly known as Giovan but from my first day at school my official name has always been John.

My ID card and a myriad of past documents, including all previous passports, insurance policies, bank accounts, contracts, University degrees, postgraduate diplomas, appointments, references, school reports, etc. state my name is John Baptist.

On renewing my passport two years ago, I was shocked to notice that my official name had been arbitrarily changed to Giovanni Battista! This put me in a difficult situation where my true identity became seriously suspect. I find it necessary to inform various institutions that, although I sign as J.B. my passport identifies me as G.B. Who would blame these organisations, whose operatives are meticulous and may not be great translators, for questioning the veracity of my statements?

Before travelling to New Zealand and the US in 2010, I took the precaution of obtaining a statement by a notary public, who knew me personally, that the two names refer to the same individual, that both my ID card and my passport were genuine and referred to the same person who happens to be me. A friend of mine actually took the extraordinary step of going to court and changing his name back officially to what it had been all his life!

Whoever took this dictatorial decision without consultation, explanation and notice caused difficulties to many people. The authority concerned should have the decency to either reverse the policy or issue an official declaration of the change of name, stating the reason (whatever it was), to be attached to the passports of all those involved.

If, as I suspect, nothing of the sort happens one would be excused for thinking that people are treated like dumb sheep that get branded according to the whims of their owner.