CC for 17 yr old or as 2nd card holder

dollywops

Is it possible for a 17 year old to have a credit card, or alternatively, for myself or oh to get a new card with our 17 year old son as a 2nd card holder.

My son is going to New York next summer and he will only be 17. He has a debit card, but I would prefer him to have a credit card, if at all possible, just in case he finds the debit card does not work, and he has to use it to draw out cash.

If anyone has any ideas, I would be grateful.

gizmoleeds

Visa or Mastercard debit cards would work.

When I went to the US I took one of my parents' debit cards - the name difference doesn't matter to an ATM

grumbler

You still have enough time to get Nationwide debit or cash card. Their flexacoount is available to 'UK residents aged 16 or over'. This card is the best for withdrawing money (and purchases if debit card) abroad: The cheapest way to spend overseas: save 6%

dc

Must agree with Grumbler, I wasn't aware it was available to 16 year olds, but it might be better if you open a joint account with your son. The quickest way to get one ( if possible) is to go into a Nationwide branch, with proof of id and address.

You can get approval for a cash card and a credit card, there and then. The cards will be with you in a few days.
It is part of their current account package, Flexaccount, but you dont have to pay in regularly or at all into the current account. I went in for just a cashcard "to use abroad", not expecting my credit rating to warrant a credit card, but was offered the lot.

It is up to you what you want. If you decide on a joint account your son will have to go with you. I dont know if you can get a second credit card in his name alone.

HTHs dc :xmassign:

King_Of_Fools

dollywops wrote:

My son is going to New York next summer and he will only be 17. He has a debit card, but I would prefer him to have a credit card, if at all possible, just in case he finds the debit card does not work, and he has to use it to draw out cash.

A Visa (Delta) or Mastercard (Maestro) debit card should be accepted everywhere a Visa or Mastercard credit card is. I would not recommend taking money out on a credit card as you will be charged interest on it!

raptorz

When I was in america recently no shops would accept a maestro card. Just thought id warn you just in case. We werent the only ones who got refused others did too.

M_Thomson

Maestro cards are accepted in most ATM's in the States, but as Raptorz says have a low acceptence rate in shops. The only credit card I am aware of which allows a person under 18 to be a second cardholder is Capital One. I am not sure if the still do that but it is worth a try. Capital One charge very high interest if you use it for cash advances though. To use in shops the fee is around 2.75% which is worked into the exchange rate when converted back to pounds.

dollywops

Many thanks to MSEs who have answered this post. My son already has a Nationwide Flex account, as they offered him £10 to open this account a few months back. I had a feeling this was the right card for him to have, but I was hoping to get a credit card for either myself or my husband, with my son as the 2nd card holder, not for the purposes of drawing cash, but using it as a plain credit card.

We already each have a Capital One card, but both are being used for stoozing purposes, until May/June next year, so this does not work, but thanks for the info.

Hermia

I would definitely recommend you getting him a credit card. I went to America when I was a student and my dad took out a credit card with me as a second. It is an absolute essential as so many places in America only seem to want credit cards. It's a good idea to have a credit card incase of problems. I actually got stuck without any hard cash on me (******* employers - grrrrr!) and I needed to pay for my coach ticket to the airport with my credit card.

jonesMUFCforever

No one LEGALLY can get a credit card until they are at least 18 years old.
I would imagine that this would be the case for a secondary card holder on an adult's account although the end result of total liability in the name of the principal cardholder would apply anyway.
The credit card companies' systems would reject any application where the holder is a minor.

M_Thomson

ejones999 wrote:

No one LEGALLY can get a credit card until they are at least 18 years old.
I would imagine that this would be the case for a secondary card holder on an adult's account although the end result of total liability in the name of the principal cardholder would apply anyway.
The credit card companies' systems would reject any application where the holder is a minor.

As mentioned already, I think Capital One allow people of any age to be a second cardholder on an account.