A mum who says her deep voice has seen her mistaken for a man on the phone for a decade now says her name is Derek to make things easier.
Lorraine Chademunhu finds using the phone to contact her bank nearly impossible, and says her account has even been blocked on numerous occasions due to mistaken identity.
The 42-year-old, who says she's always had a deep voice, used to combat the problem by visiting Barclays in person but her since her branch in Surrey closed, she's been told to use telephone banking.
The nurse says she's 'continuously quizzed' every time she calls up and spends 'at least 20 minutes' arguing with staff to prove it is her.
When she makes formal complaints, the bank say they have added a note on her account for future employees but Lorraine says it makes 'no difference'.
Booking tables at restaurants proves so difficult, she now just gives the name Derek to save time.
Sick of the confusion with her bank, Lorraine said: "I can't even add up the amount of hours I've spent on the phone being passed from pillar to post.
"I'm just so insulted and humiliated.
"I get it all - Sir, Mr Lorraine, buddy, the list goes on.
"I tell them you are speaking to Lorraine and then they just turn around and say 'well is she there?'
"I try to avoid using telephone banking as much as I can.
"But if I lose my wallet, my card or can't log into my online banking I have no choice.
"Sure my voice gets picked up a lot of the time. When I book a table at a restaurant I just give the name 'Derek' to save hassle.
"If I have to phone the AA when I breakdown or if I'm calling someone to fix the house I just go along with being a man to make life easier.
"That I'm used to and I can understand as my voice is deep.
"But when it's my own personal account and I've told them time and time again about it, it's just poor customer care.
"I provide them with my mother's maiden name, the address I have lived at for years but none of it is good enough."
Although the mum-of-two understands the security measures put in place by Barclays, she's now 'had enough' of having to 'jump through the same hoops and reaching the same conclusion' every time.
Last week, Lorraine was addressed as 'sir' at least 19 times when she called up for a new bank card.
"The thing is I have other accounts with Lloyds and Halifax and I'm able to get around that because they have voice recognition," she added.
"I don't see why Barclays haven't caught on there.
"I don't bother putting on a high pitch to Barclays because why should I?
"I've thought about changing banks but because it's tied up with the house it's so difficult.
"And every time I'm reassured things will get fixed.
"I'm a nurse and work unsociable hours. I don't have time to be skipping into Barclays.
"Last time I did that the person behind the counter told me I had to phone up customer services anyway.
"I did it there in store and then passed the phone across. I had to hear them having a chat about whether or not I was a woman.
"They look at me up and down before chuckling and say 'I know'.
"It was humiliating.
"Part of me thought 'do I have to take my clothes off in order for you lot to get the picture?'
"After I left that bank, I got in my car and I was in tears.
"It really does get me down and it's horrible for my children to see.
"I've just had enough."
A spokesman for Barclays said: "We have apologised to Miss Chademunhu for the inconvenience she has experienced.
"Protecting our customers' accounts is our top priority, and we have robust measures in place to identify and verify a customer when they call.
"We have reached out to Miss Chademunhu to implement a verification process that will identify her more quickly in the future."
