Credit Card under 18

amandamacg

I live in Scotland and when i left school at 17, i joined a bank for a couple of years before returning to full time education. During this time, the bank had very high sales targets and as such, i ended up with 2 credit cards. I've just realised however, that these cards were issued to me before i was 18 and with no parental consent, which is against the law. Does anyone know where i stand with this? I closed the accounts many years ago after i borrowed money from family to pay off the outstanding borrowing, but i am annoyed that they were able to issue these cards in the first place.

sharpy2010

Yes, you stand to be prosecuted for fraud if you try to further any claim against the bank.

The bank will not knowingly issue a card to a minor, which is what you were at the time.

You borrowed the money initially (albeit illegaly), and now you've paid it back. I don't really see the problem.

Your best bet is to forget it ever happened, and move on with life.

chattychappy

First of all, things might well be different in Scotland... but assuming they're not:

Debts are not generally enforceable against minors (without a court order). But if they're paid back, then that's it. The debt is extinguished.

If you lied to get the cards, then there could be a case for fraud (even though you paid it back). But it seems they just made a mistake - so no problem.

I didn't get the bit about being "unlawful without parental consent". Perhaps it is different in Scotland. But AFAIK, in England, parental consent wouldn't make any difference. It's not unlawful to give credit (though it is an offence to send promotions to miors, s50 CCA1974), just the agreement is unenforceable. If a parent guaranteed the agreement - well then that's a different matter.

Not sure about that last para - willing to stand corrected. Don't think it's important here anyway.

opinions4u

Troll or lied about age.

Take your pick.

N9eav

opinions4u wrote: »

Troll or lied about age.

Take your pick.

Don't think it makes much difference whether it was a bank mistake or not.
I don't like the way we try to blame other people or organisations for our mistakes.
So the guy had some debts which he was responsible for. No time now to blame the bank for giving him the card which caused his greed.
It not always someone else's fault!

Fishingtime

It sounds to me that you may be trying to get the bank to return the money you spent.
Saying you should not have lent it to me.

Just my pennies worth

Reesy1981

You were 17, put on the app form that you were 18 or 19, got a credit card. Thats what i think. Question is though, did you go to your local shop with your credit card, and then go and sit around your local loch with a gazillion crates of beer with your mates?

InsideInsurance

It is not against the law to give an under 18 credit. The issue is that they are not legally liable for any debt they accrue and so whilst you can ask them to pay it back you cannot take them to court to make them pay it back. Due to this, most credit card companies aren't willing to take the risk. Certainly I did get a credit card when I was 16 without lying about my age but the bank realised they had made a mistake when I was 18.

If you had been under 18 you could have turned round and told them to go away rather than repay the debt. You cannot now ask them to give you the debt again so that you can tell them to go away, ignoring the silliness of the idea, you are now over 18 and so would be liable for the new debt anyway.

hillendale

amandamacg wrote: »

I live in Scotland and when i left school at 17, i joined a bank for a couple of years before returning to full time education. During this time, the bank had very high sales targets and as such, i ended up with 2 credit cards. I've just realised however, that these cards were issued to me before i was 18 and with no parental consent, which is against the law. Does anyone know where i stand with this? I closed the accounts many years ago after i borrowed money from family to pay off the outstanding borrowing, but i am annoyed that they were able to issue these cards in the first place.

If your really bothered why no contact the lender and ask why they supplied you with 2 c/cards when you were still 17yrs old and hopefully they can help.

izools

hillendale wrote: »

If your really bothered why no contact the lender and ask why they supplied you with 2 c/cards when you were still 17yrs old and hopefully they can help.

Because they trusted him, duh.

As the OP is now adult, he is legally accountable for the debt irrespective of the fact he was not at the time he opened the accounts.

Mallotum_X

Not sure what the problem is?

You borrowed some money and paid it back? and what...?