13 and overdrawn!!

nitac

My 13 year old child is apparently overdrawn with Barclays... with an account that we were told when set up could not get overdrawn because of their age. Has anyone else had any experience of this?

Barclays response was quite frankly appaling. They sent a letter to him, using phrases like "escalating debt can lead to financial difficulty" which left him in tears, and when I called them they said that if this was not paid back quickly it would be passed to debt collection... he is 13!!!!!

At no point did they think of informing me of this debt (he has privacy apparently) yet it is ME they are expecting to pay this back (magic faries must have to tell me this if I hadnt found the letter). Surely this is not right???:mad:

Fiddlestick

nitac wrote: »

At no point did they think of informing me of this debt (he has privacy apparently)

Data protection.

yet it is ME they are expecting to pay this back (magic faries must have to tell me this if I hadnt found the letter). Surely this is not right???:mad:

How did he become overdrawn?

nitac

A payment he made on his card wasnt processed for 6 weeks, and being 13 he went to the cash point a few weeks after making the payment but before it was processed, it said he had money so he spent it!

stclair

As the account holder is a minor the bank are not supposed to apply bank charges to an overdrawn account and they can not pass the debt on either.

However I would come to some arrangement to put the account back into credit.

McKneff

Sorry if this is harsh but being 'in tears' might reinforce the lesson to be more vigilant with his finances.

I didnt think that minors could pay for goods with cards, i thought they could only get money from the bank or the cash machine.
ie Cash card, so what does he have, a debit card.

You need to be talking to someone in the bank to be honest.

nitac

Do you mean they cannot pass the debt on to me or to a debt collection agency?

nitac

He has a debit card, I was dubious when he got it but was assured by the bank that he couldnt go overdrawn!!. I have contacted the bank who are no help at all, they dont even think that its wrong to word letters to minors like they have. He is usually so good with his money, just he got extra at Christmas and lost track.

flashg67

My teeanagers have this account and it does say it can't go overdrawn, but I can see how this could happen. A good lesson for your 13 year old though! Even though I doubt Barclays could enforce the debt against a minor, or pass it to anyone else, I'm sure it would be prudent to get the account straight again asap.

The letter will be a 'standard' one - I doubt their systems are able to tell how old the a/c holder is?

McKneff - the teenagers account does give you a debit card on request - guess this is what the OPs child has?

The way my two spend their money - I better keep an eye on the post!

duchesspink1

minors get debit cards these days, I personally think its crazy but its a fact.

I think i'd be speaking to the bank to see how they expect him to pay a charge as a minor, ask them to explain the charge and ask if its legal, then finally offer to put the account back into credit.

I'd be taking the debit card off my child if it were me as companies often don't take the money immediately and it is hard to keep track of.

shegirl

I'd be asking them to give him a cash card instead.6 weeks is a long time for a payment to take too.

Definately offer to put the account into credit.It's a harsh lesson for him, admittedly,but one that could serve him well.

McKneff

Unfortunately, if a company doesnt take a payment straight away they have up to 6 years to claim it.

I think its absolutely horrendous that banks allow minors to have these debit cards, I also think the same about parents allowing it too.
It is so easy for the kids to spend without thought of the consequences, its the way of the world