Additional Card Holders under 18

Mondo46

Hello
My 17 year old son is going away on a long trip with a friend (6 months) and I was wondering what credit card companies still allow you to add a under 18 as an additional card holder? I don't want to mess about with debit cards or prepaid cards and I'd prefer him to have the protection of a credit card.

I know Capital one allow this, or at least did. Do any of the other companies still allow this?

pleasedelete

None as far as I know. Even Amex refused us and we have had account for 20 years and they allow it in the USA.

But let us know if you find one. I tried about 8 of ours and all said no.

reclusive46

I don't think Capital one even ask for the DOB of additional card holders, so that shouldn't be an issue. Someone should be able to back me up on that.


Just checked, no minimum age for capital one.

I wonder why these card companies keep enforcing the 18 rule. No legal requirement to do so.

Plxply

It seems like Capital One do ask for D.O.B, also I think I found out why the age rule is enforced:

How do I add an extra cardholder to my account?

Please send us a Secure Message or contact us with the following information for each extra cardholder. We can add a maximum of 3 extra cardholders to your account.

• Title (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms)
• Full name
• Full address including postcode
• Relationship to primary cardholder
• Date of birth
• Consent of fraud prevention agency checks (See below)

You must inform your extra cardholder that details provided about them may be checked with fraud prevention agencies and a search may be made. You must obtain the consent of your extra cardholder before we are able to provide them with a card.

This search may be recorded by credit reference agencies but it will not be used by other lenders or insurers when assessing lending or insurance risks, although it may be used to prevent fraud and money laundering. All the information about them will be processed for the purposes of providing them with, and servicing, an extra card on your account.

It seems like they want to run a fraud check on the additional card holder probably by doing an "Administrative Review" on their credit file. Which would be impossible with an under 18.

Anthorn

I don't understand why it is impossible for an under 18 to be searched for anti fraud and anti money laundering. It is possible that they will have had credit and will therefore have a credit report that can be searched.

Anyway, the minimum age should be 16 because that's the age at which debts can be enforced.

dzug1

reclusive46 wrote: »

I wonder why these card companies keep enforcing the 18 rule. No legal requirement to do so.

As protection for you - and more particularly them

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Welcome to MSE. :wave:

Mondo46 wrote: »

...I'd prefer him to have the protection of a debit card.

I suspect you meant to write credit card here. You should be able to edit your post.

If you're thinking of Section 75 protection you and your son might be on shakier ground. Transactions by additional cardholders may not be afforded the same protection.

InsideInsurance

Amex certainly used to give additional cards to under 18s

Easiest thing will be to ring and check before applying. As the primary cardholder is solely liable for the debt there is little issue for the card to be given to anyone but undoubtably there may be concerns over bad debt or even just PR of giving kiddies credit cards

Mondo46

Fruit_and_Nut_Case wrote: »

Welcome to MSE. :wave:

I suspect you meant to write credit card here. You should be able to edit your post.

If you're thinking of Section 75 protection you and your son might be on shakier ground. Transactions by additional cardholders may not be afforded the same protection.

Thanks changed credit card.

Mondo46

Plxply wrote: »

It seems like Capital One do ask for D.O.B, also I think I found out why the age rule is enforced:

It seems like they want to run a fraud check on the additional card holder probably by doing an "Administrative Review" on their credit file. Which would be impossible with an under 18.

So does Capital one allow under 18s or not?

reclusive46

Plxply wrote: »

It seems like Capital One do ask for D.O.B, also I think I found out why the age rule is enforced:

It seems like they want to run a fraud check on the additional card holder probably by doing an "Administrative Review" on their credit file. Which would be impossible with an under 18.

From what I gather they just ask for proof of address and sometimes ID and note compared to all the other companies it doesn't mention *age of 18 required with Capital one.