Barclays Debit Card - Overdrawn Warning

paulofessex

Have today been to my local branch of Barclays with DS to change his joint account with me to his own name (he now 13yrs).

Was surprised to be told as to how easy it is for anyone with a Barclays debit card to become overdrawn, this of course meaning being subjected to relevant charges/costs.

If you make a purchase with a Barclays Debit Card which is under £30 it is automatically processed even if there are insufficient funds in the account.

What is annoying is how they know and allow this and surely it leads some people into financial trouble.

Come on Barclays, sort it out

balmk

Do people really rely on their bank to manage their finances for them? Whatever happened to knowing how much is in your account and tailoring your spending accordingly?

meer53

paulofessex wrote: »

Have today been to my local branch of Barclays with DS to change his joint account with me to his own name (he now 13yrs).

Was surprised to be told as to how easy it is for anyone with a Barclays debit card to become overdrawn, this of course meaning being subjected to relevant charges/costs.

If you make a purchase with a Barclays Debit Card which is under £30 it is automatically processed even if there are insufficient funds in the account.

What is annoying is how they know and allow this and surely it leads some people into financial trouble.

Come on Barclays, sort it out

Most banks operate this way, not just Barclays. It's up to you not to spend more then you have available in your account so that you don't incur any fees. It's not difficult. Card payments are guaranteed for the retailers, if they are over their authorisation floor limits then they will be declined if the funds aren't available.

System

If you're worried then ask for him to be issued with a Visa Electron card not a normal visa card. I believe its impossible to get overdrawn with a visa electron card, as no matter what the limit of the purchase the account is checked to make sure the money is available.

arcon5

I'm sure that's not always the case. I had my card declined at a garage about a month ago because of insufficient funds in my account. Turned out two DDs left the account several days earlier than planned .

But you should use this to educate the child on managing his finances, otherwise rather than the card being accepted and taking him overdrawn, it will be declined leaving him humiliated at the checkout.

WelshBluebird

I thought a child could not legally become overdrawn, because it is technically lending money? The same reason why a child cannot get a credit card etc etc.

williham

WelshBluebird wrote: »

I thought a child could not legally become overdrawn, because it is technically lending money? The same reason why a child cannot get a credit card etc etc.

They can go overdrawn but the bank can't chase them for the money until they are 18

krisskross

Perhaps he isn't ready for an account on his own if he is likely to not keep track of his spending.

zagfles

williham wrote: »

They can go overdrawn but the bank can't chase them for the money until they are 18

As I understand it they can't chase them for the money at all, ever. A child can't legally be held to a contract, so if the bank did allow a child to go overdrawn, there is nothing the bank could do to force the child to pay the charges or return the borrowed money.

pmduk

The problem here is that it's a joint account with a parent. Perhaps a specific teenager's account would be better

Mrs_Ryan

I believe Barclays no longer issue Visa Electron cards - my card is technically an Electron and believe you me, you can go overdrawn as after an argument with the Barclays fraud dept my account ended up £117 overdrawn :eek: