credit card for 17 year old

76elaine

My 17 year old daughter is going abroad this summer. The recent travel delays caused by Iclandic volcano have made me anxious about what she would do for money in an emergency. I have tried both my credit cards (Post Office and Nationwide) to see if she can be an additional cardholder on my account but both have refused.
It would be illegal for me just to give her my credit card away with her.
Does anyone know of any credit card company that will allow 17 year old as additional card holder?
thanks

ChrisCobra

You could always make sure they have enough in their VISA account , my electron worked fine abroad. Or even travellers cheques or whatever they are

Also i wouldnt let my daughter go abroad alone at 17 , but thats another issue!

BadgerFace_2

What about a prepaid card?

You could give her one, that way if she does get into bother, you can load it with money for her to use. This also stops her having the temptation of your credit card.

If she has an O2 mobile phone, they'll give her one free.

Tixy

She could get a prepaid card - but it would have to be loaded with enough emergency money in advance - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cards/prepaid-cards#kids

jonesMUFCforever

Nobody will let you have an under aged person as an additional cardholder.
Most banks will let youngsters have a visa debit card. Make sure that she leaves her bank details with you in case you have to top up her account when she is away.

blindmouse

If I was you I would just pay a lump sum into her account and say that it was for emergencys only. And get her to pay it back if there was isn't one x

76elaine

thanks for help.
she's going with operation raleigh so not on a holiday but I just worry that she needs money for emergency.
will try nationwide for flex account as i think their foreign currency charges are reasonable - used to be free but think they charge now.

[Deleted User]

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Nobody will let you have an under aged person as an additional cardholder.

Capital One gave me an additional card on my mum's account when I was 16. Only wanted my name, never checked my DOB.

[Deleted User]

Another idea: Get a Barclaycard - they only print the name as A B SMITH (without Mr, Mrs, Miss, etc) - then give the card to the girl, get her to sign it in her "new" name, and tell her the pin.

Job done.

dzug1

billbennett wrote: »

Another idea: Get a Barclaycard - they only print the name as A B SMITH (without Mr, Mrs, Miss, etc) - then give the card to the girl, get her to sign it in her "new" name, and tell her the pin.

Job done.

But most definitely fraudulently done.

At least with the suggestion of giving her one of the existing cards the breach is of the bank's T&C rather than out and out fraud.

billbennett wrote: »

Capital One gave me an additional card on my mum's account when I was 16. Only wanted my name, never checked my DOB.

So they made a mistake. That doesn't mean that every bank every time will make the same mistake.

paulmcerlean

Visa debit is the solution here - she can use it anywhere visa is accepted, and you can top up her account from yours using your internet banking if an emergency addition of funds is required.

Most banks will iffer a full auth visa debit to a 17 year old - if hers does not, she should get an account who does.

No need to go down the route of credit cards here.