Can a balance transfer be done to a card not in your name?

SueF1

As title really please. Can the balance of a credit card be easily transferred to someone else or a) is this not doable or b) have to jump through a lot of hoops to do so...
Thank you for any help.

bradders1983

Probably depends if the card you are transferring to is within the same group. Essentially a balance transfer is just a bank making a bank payment, they have no way of checking if a card is in the same name if it is, lets say, Barclays to HSBC.

Sandtree

Some state you cannot do it but most don;t have an issue with it. Years ago it used to be possible to ignore those saying you cannot do it and it would go through fine but more data flows these days so it may no longer be possible.

Remember as soon as you authorise the transfer though the debt becomes 100% yours... if you have a falling out with the person you cannot tell the bank to reverse it in any way etc.

MalMonroe

Yes, you can. There's this info, updated in May this year, with some examples, I think it looks quite helpful. Hope so, anyway! https://www.balancetransferexpert.co.uk/can-i-do-a-balance-transfer-from-someone-elses-credit-card/

MallyGirl

Banks/credit card providers now have the ability to check the name against an account - whether they bother is another matter. Some such as Tesco (I seem to remember) state that you cannot BT someone else's debt, others don't ask so you just put in the long card number and away you go.

SueF1

Thank you all for your help, great advice! 

Sharon87

If you can't with your current cards you may be able to do a money transfer if you have an MBNA, Barclaycard or Virgin (maybe some others too) instead. Fees are usually a little higher for a money transfer though. All of my cards say it has to be in my name, but I've never tried to transfer it to someone else's name.