My 15 year old son sent Barclaycard Platinum Credit Card Application

samcat_2

My 15 year old son has just been sent a credit card application!

It is from Barclaycard for a Platinum Visa credit card. (offering 0% on Balance transfers to August 2007)

this is the first time he has received junk mail.

1 month ago we opened a Halifax bank account for him, and this is the only thing I can think of that put his name and address into a database.

I want to find out how this has happened... is it because a credit rating has been opened?

Prudent

I think banks can be very irresponsible about whom they offer credit to. I hope they have the gace to apologise to yourself and your son.

C_Ronaldo

id ring up and ask how they have got his address, halifax and barclaycard arent related are they?, i think i remember my brother had a letter re some credit card from some company, cant remember who though

Astaroth

To be honest, I would very much doubt you know every single form your son has completed (competitions, online registrations etc)

The problem can be that some forms dont ask date of birth and therefore a sender cant screen them for the "over 18s" - of cause for some things, kids will lie about their DOB as they can only register if they are over 18 (eg eBay, !!!!!! sites etc)

Personally I would just chuck it in the bin - assuming he had completed it correctly then it would have been rejected as he is under 18 and therefore wouldnt have been liable for any debts he created on the card (nor would you)

rsykes2000

Astaroth wrote:

To be honest, I would very much doubt you know every single form your son has completed (competitions, online registrations etc)

The problem can be that some forms dont ask date of birth and therefore a sender cant screen them for the "over 18s" - of cause for some things, kids will lie about their DOB as they can only register if they are over 18 (eg eBay, !!!!!! sites etc)

Personally I would just chuck it in the bin - assuming he had completed it correctly then it would have been rejected as he is under 18 and therefore wouldnt have been liable for any debts he created on the card (nor would you)

Personally, I shred anything that has my name and address on it, this most definitely and especially aplies to credit card / loan aplications and that sort of thing. You really don't want someone ele to get their hands on it.

Saucepot

Why not fill it in and reply? Ensure his personal details are correct including DOB, lack of any income, and see whether he gets one?

He's under 18, and not liable for any debts.

You're not liable either unless you specifically sign and agree to cover those debts, which of course you won't.

At the very least you've forced them to meet the costs of processing it.

Astaroth

rsykes2000 wrote:

Personally, I shred anything that has my name and address on it, this most definitely and especially aplies to credit card / loan aplications and that sort of thing. You really don't want someone ele to get their hands on it.

Personally I am not paranoid so just put junk mail in the bin (credit card statements etc are obviously different) as someone could as easily walk into barclays, pick up an application form and enter my name and address so would have exactly the same that they would have after going through my bin.

Of cause if you are ultra cautious about people knowing your name and address then you could shred it and then bin/ burn it rather than going straight for the bin option

wigginsmum

We've learned to be paranoid about any paperwork with our details on after a lot of money was stolen from DH's bank account last year. We shred everything.

wigginsmum

ts_aly2000 wrote:

Fill out the application form. If they send him a card, let him go a spree to his heart's content. No one's liable for it, not even you.

Great - encouraging a 15-year-old to steal. How stupid.

lisyloo

Don't encourage him to steal or get into debt (very bad habit).

I would shred it and I don't think you can be too careful.
If the address is in one small place then shread that bit and put any other bits without address into the recycling.
You should recycle paper and not put it in the bin.

Hang on, my halo needs polishing :-))

sicker

No it doesn't Isyloo, I can see it shining from here. But good advice.

John