Son got a credit card

iaiin

:mad:
i have a 17 year old son who's usually very good, but I found out last night that he had a credit card, and I'm understandably furious with him.
I didn't know about any of this until today - he had a mail shot addressed to him about 6 months ago from a company called "Vanquis", and as he needed money at the time, he stupidly filled in the application with a birthdate a few months older and sent it off.
A few weeks later, they sent him a card with a £250 limit without asking for any ID :eek: or anything.
He got to about £200, then when they started asking for money, he panicked and just started hiding their letters without even opening them (i guess tere's a reason you can't get credit until 18!). He now owes them about £300. His only source of income is casual work, and so can't afford to pay them.
A completely irresonsible company, but I'm more annoyed with him. Do you think if I contacted the company, they'd freeze interest/charges? Otherwise he'll just be able to pay the minimum and it'll never go away.
I always thought he'd be really good with money :mad:

GeorgeUK

The APR interest on the Vanquis card is HUGE!!

First, i would suggest writing to them (get your son to do it) and ask for a copy of the CCA (consumer credit agreement). Depending on the details on the CCA could mean different things.

If your son has declared that he is 18 - he has obtained credit by deception

Not sure about what checks the banks need to do for age verification, but it may all be in the smallprint.

I think your son will be liable for the money he has spent but not any charges.
Hopefully someone else has heard of this happening and what to do.

If not, i would contact the Citizens advice and see what they say before communicating with Vanquis.
You may feel obliged to send a letter to trading standards, but as i said - not sure if the bank is covered by its smallprint.

smithja

thankfully, he can only be taken to court if he got it with no intention of paying it back. Which I am sure you are now not going to allow to happen, so he wont be going to court, if you can pay it off for him and then make him pay you, it will hurt more and be a better punishment. The bank would not want to either, just think, in an open court this gets heard then reported in the papers, and anyone who is too young can get themselves a card, it really shows the bank up more than your son. I would not tell the bank he has put down a false DOB, just try to get it paid back ASAP and closed. When he reaches 18 and can apply he might have a problem explaining the two different DOB's. James

gt94sss2

I'm sorry but I disagree that Vanquis were irresponsible in this case. Your son lied about his date of birth on his application form.

As he is under 18 I don't think the consumer credit agreement he signed is legally valid and that he should just be responsible for refunding the money paid not any charges/interest

I am not a lawyer but it does sound as if in lying to the company your son committed fraud or obtained credit by deception as someone else has stated and I am not sure how the credit card company would react if they found out (in terms of making it harder for him to get credit with anyone when he is 18+)

The alternative is for you to pay off his card and trust your son has learnt his lesson.. - you may want to take advice from Citizens advice or similar re: this situation

Regards
Sunil

michilin27

surely this situation clearly highlights why such issues should be part of the national curriciculum??

michilin27

michilin27 wrote: »

surely this situation clearly highlights why such issues should be part of the national curriciculum??

and clearly i need to go back to school and learn how to spell?!!