Credit cards for 16/17 year old?

Janet_B91

Hi, I'm new here and I have a question regarding credit cards for minors  :)

My daughter is 16, she has a part time job and is very good with her money. As she is under 18 she is unable to apply for her own credit card. Quite rightly so, as the temptation to spend may be too much.

However, this does mean that she has to carry cash with her whenever she goes shopping. Unfortunately, she recently had £35 stolen whilst at school. She had the money with her as she was going to buy some shoes after school and was unable to come home first.

It's because of this that I would like her to be an additional card holder on my credit card account. Not to be able to carry the card at all times, just when she has something specific to buy.

Obviously, with the old signature cards this wouldn't have been much safer than carrying cash. But with the new chip n pin system it would be far better for her to carry a card rather than cash.

It seems silly that the whole point of chip n pin is for security purposes yet 16/17 year olds, who are allowed to earn money, have to carry cash about with them when they are the most likely to have it stolen.

She has a PIN on her phone which no one knows (not even me!) so there would be no problem with security on that level.

Does anyone know if any credit card company will issue additional cards to 16 and 17 years olds? Or is it law that a card holder has to be over 18?

Also, where would we stand in me allowing her to take my card to the shops? Are other people allowed to use cards with the authorisation of the card holder? Presumably, my mother could give me her card and PIN and no one would suspect a thing.

So to sum up, my questions are...

1. Is there a credit card company that will issue additional cards to 16/17 year olds?

2. Can other people use your card and PIN with your authorisation?

 8)  ;D  :D  ;)

Robert_Sterling_3

1. Is there a credit card company that will issue additional cards to 16/17 year olds?

2. Can other people use your card and PIN with your authorisation?

1. She could get a debit card I think associated with a bank account for which you could be a guarantor.

2. If you mean are they allowed to then the answer is a resounding NO. Do not tell anyone your pin number is one of the terms and conditions. Not your mother, father, granny, husband, daughter, the vicar, the Pope etc.

If you mean is it possible then yes and it is even easier than shoplifting or parking on a yellow line.

Fatboy_NSS

If she's 16 then she can get a debit card on a bank account. Abbey will issue one if she's in school or working (don't know about the other banks). It would only be an Electron card but most shops accept them now. Unfortunately banks can't issue credit cards to under 18s as legally minors cannot borrow.

student100

Most banks will open an account for a 16-17 year old with a debit card - either Solo (Natwest, HSBC,...) or Visa Electron (Barclays, Halifax,...). These are accepted in almost all shops.

They are different from Maestro (Switch) and Visa Debit cards as they always require authorisation when making a purchase so they shouldn't be able to go overdrawn.

Credit cards are only available to over 18s even as an additional cardholder.

If you let someone else use your card and PIN you will be breaking the terms and conditons of your card and most importantly, if you have a fraudulent transaction on your account you won't be able to get your money back as the bank will say you have been negligent with your PIN.

Janet_B91

Thanks for the advice

I think I'll get her to open a bank account that has a Solo or Electron card. I've had a look at some online and see that Lloyds TSB allow deposits at the Post Office which is useful for someone who needs to deposit cash but doesn't drive.

MarkyMarkD

nfortunately banks can't issue credit cards to under 18s as legally minors cannot borrow.

Sorry to split hairs, but they CAN borrow - but the debt isn't enforceable.

Robert_Sterling_3

Sorry to have to agree with MarkyDMark but under 18s can borrow but if they do not pay back then hard cheese.

Clariman

Thanks for the advice

I think I'll get her to open a bank account that has a Solo or Electron card. I've had a look at some online and see that Lloyds TSB allow deposits at the Post Office which is useful for someone who needs to deposit cash but doesn't drive.

No matter how much I trusted my offspring, I would never give them a card on my credit card account. That seems fraught with potential issues ! I see many people have already suggested an Electron card. That works well. My son has a LTSB account with an Electron card for exactly the same reason.

Clariman

nh

Is it just me or is anyone else thinking you have to let your kids live their own lives? If she's had £35 stolen, that is a lesson for her to learn (that you do not leave your bag etc unattended when there are valuables in it). I think it is going a bit far to say she should not carry cash now and should only ever carry a card to buy bigger purchases with.

She is going to have to learn how to look after cash safely at some point in her life.

She can have a Switch card anyway - I did when I was 16 (Natwest).

Fatboy_NSS

Sorry to split hairs, but they CAN borrow - but the debt isn't enforceable.

True. I was dumbing down a bit for the other users of the site :P

payless

A person under 18  cannot normally be taken to court for debt. This is because you cannot usually make a legally enforceable contract. The exception is when debts are incurred for necessities, for example, food, clothing and shelter


hence providers don't normally provide credit facility below 18.

Some banks do issue "cheque guarantee cards" or debit cards which potentially could take someone overdrawn
( back in the 80's as a 16/17 year old , used to use mine if asked to prove age in a pub - worked most of the time then

In the case of additional cardholders its the account holder that is liable, so in theory I believe they should offer them but they don't as far as I am aware