NatWest and Switch cards

[directhex]

it depends on the bank as to whether you get visa series or mastercard series.

switch @ natwest, hsbc, halifax
delta @ tsb, barclays

[TomWilko]

I was just told before i was 18 that you could have a Switch card, but you had to have about £250 regular income.

As for going overdrawn, you can go overdrawn on a Solo card...because I have done it, [and i was under 18] they just charge you a serious amount of cash for doing it!

[Allen]

I was just told before i was 18 that you could have a Switch card, but you had to have about £250 regular income.

As for going overdrawn, you can go overdrawn on a Solo card...because I have done it, [and i was under 18] they just charge you a serious amount of cash for doing it!

That's wrong, seriously wrong! (I don't mean your statement, I mean the situation!)

[Howard]

It's not illegal to have a Switch card. But it is to take out an overdraft AFAIK

[TomWilko]

That's wrong, seriously wrong! (I don't mean your statement, I mean the situation!)

I know, wasn't very fair tbh. Play.com sent me an item and didn't charge me. So, after a week i thought everything was ok and that i had got it for free. I then bought something else that bought my account to being quite low (i got paid the week after) and then Play decided to take their money out to.

I think i got charged the cost of the item, the interest (which as high) + an overdrawn fee of like £10 or £15.

Certainly taught me a lesson!!

[rox0r]

That happens a lot with Natwest Solo accounts, I had a Step account (somewhat shady credit history over the years led to a grown man having a kiddie's account) and found that often things purchased on the Solo card would appear as 'as yet unapproved' on the day of purchase on internet banking, only to disappear the next day leaving muggins thinking he's quids in. Not so as the money comes out anything up to two weeks (!) later sometimes.

Doesn't always happen, may have never happened to some, but it does happen nonetheless and it's annoying when it does. Natwest just say, "Bleh, that sometimes happens"

[directhex]

legally a bank can't let a minor get into debt, if i remember correctly. they can't charge you for being overdrawn at 16, it's their error for approving the transaction

[Dickie]

legally a bank can't let a minor get into debt, if i remember correctly. they can't charge you for being overdrawn at 16, it's their error for approving the transaction

from the Natwest TnCs :

Taking money out of your Account
Your account may not be overdrawn - that means you cannot take out more money than you have in your account. If your account becomes overdrawn we may inform your parents or guardians. We may charge you interest at our unarranged borrowing rate of interest if you take out more money than is in your account. You can get details of the interest rate and when it will be charged from any of our branches.

[Howard]

legally a bank can't let a minor get into debt, if i remember correctly. they can't charge you for being overdrawn at 16, it's their error for approving the transaction

This is correct. However it's not illegal to have a Switch card.

[Knoxville]

This is correct. However it's not illegal to have a Switch card.

No but most banks provide an overdraft as standard with switch accounts by the looks of things, I've got one with my student account now, while it may not be illegal to have the card its illegal to have the overdraft.

Tom, thats weird, i went into debt a fair few times in a similar way but i never got charged, they'd just deduct the amount from the next set of wages that went in.

[Howard]

No but most banks provide an overdraft as standard with switch accounts by the looks of things, I've got one with my student account now, while it may not be illegal to have the card its illegal to have the overdraft.

I know

Which is what baffles me... How are they giving these out to 17 year olds

[Knoxville]

I'd imagine that if you request it specifically the bank may upgrade your solo card to switch and not allow you an overdraft.