Foreign Currency options for under 18's

BarbaraT1963

Can anyone advise me of any options available for my 16 year old daughter to take foreign currency to the USA. She is taking $1,000 which I wanted to split as $200 cash and $800 on a pre-paid currency card, but was advised that she has to be 18 to have a currency card. I didn't really want to get her travellers cheques as I'm looking to keep it simple, nor did I want to send her with the full $1,000 in cash. Any ideas or suggestions would be most appreciated.

p.s. Hope this makes sense - this is the first time I have ever posted on a forum!!:o

mcfisco

You could get the card and load it up for her

She'd probably have to just use it as an ATM card though as they still use signatures for verification.
Easy enough to bluff that I guess but it could go horribly wrong.

benjus

If you want to keep it legit, the Lebara card will let you take out a card in your name and get an additional card for her. It's not particularly cheap (fees are 2% on purchases, £2 + 2% on cash withdrawals) but it may be the best option.

There's also the Orange Cash Card, although it's even more expensive to use abroad (fees are 2.75% on purchases, 5.7% on cash withdrawals).

zagfles

Does she have a bank account with a debit card, if so she should be able to use that abroad to pay for stuff and withdraw cash - but check they allow it and also check the charges.

I believe the ICE pre-paid card allows an additional card in another person's name, who it doesn't say has to be 18+. https://www.iceplc.com/travel-money/foreign-currency-ATM.html

NiftyDigits

BarbaraT1963 wrote: »

Can anyone advise me of any options available for my 16 year old daughter to take foreign currency to the USA. She is taking $1,000 which I wanted to split as $200 cash and $800 on a pre-paid currency card, but was advised that she has to be 18 to have a currency card. I didn't really want to get her travellers cheques as I'm looking to keep it simple, nor did I want to send her with the full $1,000 in cash. Any ideas or suggestions would be most appreciated.

p.s. Hope this makes sense - this is the first time I have ever posted on a forum!!:o

The Caxton currency cards allow you to add an additional cardholder of 16 years or over.
ICE Prepaid cards just give you an extra card. Don't know anything about them issuing it under another name. I have no idea as to why zagfles has posted that link. It is not at all relevant to the discussion. Perhaps just a mistake.

jayu619

I went with ICE since my younger brother is also going to the states, and I had to order a card first (being over 18) and I then ordered a supplementary card in his name so he now has his own card (he's 17 - he gets an emergency card too). It's all linked under my account so I can top up and he can use the allowance.

Just letting you know how I got on, and hopefully this helps

zagfles

NiftyDigits wrote: »

The Caxton currency cards allow you to add an additional cardholder of 16 years or over.
ICE Prepaid cards just give you an extra card. Don't know anything about them issuing it under another name. I have no idea as to why zagfles has posted that link. It is not at all relevant to the discussion. Perhaps just a mistake.

Sorry wrong URL meant to post the T&Cs. It says you can have an additional cardholder but doesn't say they need to be over 18 (the main cardholder does have to be 18+): https://www.iceplc.com/prepaid-currency-card/travellers-cashcard-terms.html

Supplementary Card An additional card which can be ordered via the Website and can be issued in your own name or in any other person's name, such as the name of a relative (but, for the avoidance of doubt, cannot be Loaded by anyone other than you). A Supplementary Card is linked to your Account and can be used to make a Transaction from the Available Balance held within your Wallet(s);

NiftyDigits

jayu619 wrote: »

I went with ICE since my younger brother is also going to the states, and I had to order a card first (being over 18) and I then ordered a supplementary card in his name so he now has his own card (he's 17 - he gets an emergency card too). It's all linked under my account so I can top up and he can use the allowance.

Just letting you know how I got on, and hopefully this helps

Thanks for the feedback.