Credit Card Issued to 17 year Old !

clairer828

I am horrified and disgusted that my son (at the age of 17) has been able to apply and be accepted for a storecard at one of the major Mens high street stores. Even though he told the member of staff he was 17 !!! I have of course given my son a right telling off and the card will be destroyed and account closed... but how the hell can this happen ? And who do I complain to ? This is just asking for teenagers to get themselves in allsorts of financial mess! Any ideas anyone ? :mad:

nomoneytoday

If they gave him credit AFAIK they couldn't enforce him paying it back, not a bright idea by the store..

Tixy

Has this just happened? Did he complete the agreement with his correct date of birth? I would initially complain to the head office of the shop. If you check his receipt see if it mentions the till operators name.

The credit account will probably actually be supplied by another company (often seems to be santander) so I would complain to them as well (although only if he did write his correct DOB).

If you want to complain further I would suggest the financial ombudsman (but you cannot complain to them until you have complained to the bank providing the finance)

stephane_2

Troll alert.....there is something not quite right in her story

chattychappy

My idea is it's no problem (for him) and I don't see why he had to have a telling off. Getting credit isn't naughty. It's a good chance to learn at an early age how to manage credit before much more becomes available.

Different story if he lied. Sounds like either he lied or it's a clerical error.

I had a cheque guarantee card when I was 15. I could have used that to force an overdraft. I had a Barclaycard when I was 17. It was many years ago! At the time all Barclay's cheque cards were issued as Barclaycards. I think in those days it wasn't such a "big deal" that banks couldn't enforce something against you. A real person looked at you, looked at your account history and was prepared to take a chance on the basis of a banking relationship that might last a lifetime.

pinkarsenalprincess

I don't understand how there could be a clerical error. For the storecard to be opened the date of birth needs to be put on the form, which is then checked against the form of ID. When the card is rung for activation the reference number from the ID (e.g. passport or driving license) has to be given which is then checked on the system for the correct date/age/address details etc.
Granted the shop staff may not have worked out the age correctly on the ID, but the computer would have noticed the age straight away.

powerone

so your son has a savings account with a card. So you cant steal his money for your booze and fags. You then get upset.

chattychappy

pinkarsenalprincess wrote: »

For the storecard to be opened the date of birth needs to be put on the form, which is then checked against the form of ID. When the card is rung for activation the reference number from the ID (e.g. passport or driving license) has to be given which is then checked on the system for the correct date/age/address details etc.

Last time I got a store card I didn't have to produce any ID with my age on it. I I just used my Nationwide debit card (or possibly another card).

pinkarsenalprincess

chattychappy wrote: »

Last time I got a store card I didn't have to produce any ID with my age on it. I I just used my Nationwide debit card (or possibly another card).

Certain debit cards can also be used as ID, as there are some that are only issued to 18+.

Cards such as Solo and Electron aren't accepted as ID as they are issued to 16+

powerone

chattychappy wrote: »

Last time I got a store card I didn't have to produce any ID with my age on it. I I just used my Nationwide debit card (or possibly another card).

for the selfridges card you need debit / credit card and driving licence.

Typhoon2000

Lloyds (and probably others) give Visa Debit cards to 11yr olds

http://www.lloydstsb.com/current_accounts/under_19s_account.asp