Considering these guys hold all the aces, and have it within their power to make future travel difficult, you don't really have a lot of wriggle room. I don't like it either, but sometimes it pays to be compliant.
It reminds me of a totally different, but equally frustrating, requirement when transferring North American stock. With UK stock the seller signs a transfer form with their usual signature, and the broker certifies the signature to be true. For NA stock the seller has to "sign" the equivalent to our transfer form (a "stock power") with the name (a) exactly as it appears on the certificate and (b) legible. So in effect the seller has to just write their name. If the name on the certificate says "Mrs Andrea Freda G Snodgrass", signing without the title, the first and second names in full and the initial and the surname, and all completely legible (but not block capitals, as it actually appears!) it will be rejected. Given that the paperwork has to be couriered across the Atlantic, the charges quickly roll up. It's amazing how many otherwise intelligent clients cannot, or will not, comply.
