Lloyds TSB and 16 year old son

johnbfan

Hi there - I'm new on here so hope I'm doing it right.

My son is 16 and has a Lloyds TSB Under 19 account with a cash/debit card, opened when looking for work. He worked for two months to Christmas 2006, but not since. He is still using the bank account but there is no money going into it.

At the moment he is overdrawn just over £7.00. He can still use the card without having money.

I have some worries due to his age, and some of these are (for starters)

1. Am I responsible for his overdraft which is not allowed on this account (legally I am responsible for him until he is 18). I paid it for him before but if I keep doing this he will not sort himself out.

2. How come he is able to still pay for things with the card.

3. How long will the bank let this go on before they freeze his account.

We have an older son who, due to mis-use of his account has a very poor credit rating which will affect his future, and can only use his bank account as a cash account. He is not allowed to set up direct debits etc. I am obviously concerned that this does not happen to the 16 year old.

Can I, because of the younger ones age cancel the account or contact the bank and get them to act on this.

Hope someone can help. Thanks - Johnbfan

jonesMUFCforever

The U19 cannot go overdrawn. The £7 might have been charges relating to a transaction or transactions abroad ( has he been paying for goods abroad even places like Play.com based in Jersey?).
The worst case is that they will block his card and he will have to make do with a cashpoint card. I don't think they will send in the heavies for this amount but it is important to tell him that he has a responsibilty to pay it back (I know legally he isn't but you don't need to tell him that!).
The bank will only accept instruction from your son about the account but I don't see any harm in you writing to the branch voicing your concerns. This might prompt them to block the card.

You are not responsible for his debt (the bank is in this case).
He will not be able to pay for things if he has no money in his account.

johnbfan

Thanks for that.

He must be using the card to pay for things 'over the counter' although he says he is not (he is 16 years old - do I believe him!!!)

I will leave it to the bank to deal with and hopefully they will eventually get the message and block the card.

Thanks

jonesMUFCforever

The card is a control card in that all transactions are checked against available balance on his account and either declined or accepted.
Once accepted the amount of that transaction is then ringfenced until it has come out of his account and cannot be spent again.

LTSB has a charge of £1 for every transaction spent abroad even as I suggested earlier at Places like Play or CD Wow which are based out of UK even if they charge in sterling.

johnbfan

Hi Al

I have told him to stop but his attitude is that if the bank let him do it - why not do it.

Of four of us in the house I am the only one who seems to have any financial sense. Just got the OH out of a lot of trouble and the older son recently. Just as well one of us has the nouse when it comes to finance. Though passing it on to the others in the house is an uphill struggle.

danielharris91

When i was a student i had the same problems with my Solo & Visa Electron cards.

Some websites and shop counters dont check the balance on the card there and then so (if) it does clear the money still comes out of the account anyway.

Very big worry if you ask me.

Kilty_2

Some transactions in shops are not pre authorised with this card, so you can end up spending money you don't have. This is the fault of the retailers not the bank.

danielharris91

Thats what i was trying to say!

thanks

someone

ejones999 wrote:

The U19 cannot go overdrawn.

Its let me go overdraw before (got a LTSB U19 account)

jonesMUFCforever

someone wrote:

Its let me go overdraw before (got a LTSB U19 account)

When and by how much?

Kilty_2

I believe that it is certainly possible to go overdrawn with it - I know someone who has went overdrawn with a Bank of Scotland Cardcash account with Visa Electron.