AIBU to refuse my daughter a debit card for school trips?

I would get a post office pre paid card for her.

Even Primary school children enjoy buying small gifts/ice cream at the gift shop on a school trip. I stopped taking school trips long before 'card only' was common but would definitely provide a secondary school.pupil with a useable/virtual card.

It’s generally easier to open an account as a child than as an adult as banks will usually accept a birth certificate and letter from school as proof of address. The ID requirements as an adult are much stricter. So even if people don’t think they need one just yet, it’s still a good idea to open one - even if it’s used only for saving.

No I wasn’t as they were 16 at the time and it was their money on my card. The account was created specifically for travel and has no overdraft facilities. They have their own ones for this type of account as old enough.

We have a post office pre payment card for abroad that we top up and I’m sure when we got it fhe post office gave it to us immediately then you download and app and register the card?

so much needs to be paid by card these days so I struggle to see how a 16 year old can manage without one. Would think it really prevents them from being independent, do they not even have one on their phone?
25 years ago I had one from starting high school and since then more and more things have become electronic payments (debit card or online)

Prepaid debit card with £10 on it?

I’d say build resilience when it’s you dealing with your child.
We often run all day trips where we will stop at Starbucks for a drink.
We say in info what plan is and child needs card in their own name.
A sad child sitting watching their friends all have a drink becomes the leaders problem. It’s really tricky as you don’t know if the mum will appreciate you offering to buy one (and give you money after) eg mum has forgotten or if mum is deliberately not wanting them to have a drink - sugar/boycotts Starbucks etc. Supervising large groups of children isn’t easy. Having to check Jane is ok with no drink when she’s sitting there teary is an extra hassle.
There’s no need to give your cards, lots of options for children to have their own.

Have ppl on MN no common sense, transfer the balance out of it and leave £20/30 available.
The paranoid and stupidity here is shocking.

And stop any overdraft facility you may have.? Sounds ridiculous.

No to your card. That's a stupid idea but why doesn't she have her own card? If she's old enough to go on a school trip and be paying for her own stuff she is old enough to have a pre- loaded card. There are loads out there and most banks do kids accounts with cards. It teaches them about money ( and you can send them to the shops to pick up bread etc 😆). Mine had their own from 11.

I absolutely would not give her one of your debit cards. My DH had a fradulent payment of almost £3000 taken out of his account. Part of the investigation was him having to confirm he had not let anyone have access to / use of his card and PIN number.

Loads do. Most of my DC’s friends have had them since primary school when they started going on trips requiring spending money.
Lots started with go Henry or similar but we have cards for a joint account DH and I use when we have a night out. It has no overdraft and we can move money or freeze the card if necessary via the banking app so it was pretty risk free for the kids to use. They’re teens now so all have their own bank accounts and cards.

@Ghht How is it 'pandering' to set up a child for the world by giving them a means to pay for things and have a bit of independence?

Building 'resilience for the real world' involves giving them a bit of independence and trust.

If she has a mobile phone just set her up on Monzo or another online bank so she can tap her phone.

It takes minutes to do, there is time.

As an adult though you can be prepared to overcome those issues. As a child it is harder.
I know if someone is organising a meal and I can't afford it for example I might be able to say I will join you for a drink after.
A child might not have that ability. All friends go off to queue, do they want to tag along knowing they have no money to buy something or do they end up sitting alone eating their lunch, missing out on the chat that goes on while the friends are in line.

I mean, they don't need to buy anything but it would be nice if she had the means to get an ice-cream or something from a shop if she gets peckish or too hot.

It's not about "pandering".

I think it's become the norm for children to have cards for when they start secondary, as this is when they are likely to be going to places on their own. My son hasn't yet used his, but I expect he will end up buying sweets or drinks on his way to or from from school once he goes on his own.

I link it to cash being less accepted in many places. Even to use the public toilets in town you have to pay by card.

Making sure a child is set up to be independent isn’t pandering!

This. So she feels left out? So what, it builds resilience for the real world and seriously, what does a kid need to buy on these trips?

This.
You haven't said what age she is but presuming she is not five years old. Mine all have Revolut cards since they were nine years old. We are slowly evolving as a cashless society, surely you realise that. Mine would have a "nice packed lunch and drinks" too but they'd have their cards, like all the others. How do you allocate pocket money? Is it cash?

I'm surprised that schools will accommodate 30/60 ish kids queuing for ice creams. My youngest is in her mid twenties now, and I don't recall sending her o school trips with anything other than a substantial packed lunch and plenty of water. It really never occurred to parents to send them with money, cash or card. I really don't get it.

Instant - Revolut

My son and all his friends have current accounts with debit cards. They are 13. So far this week he's been to two places that were cashless.

Just set her up with her own. Monzo is popular.
Lots of places are card only now. Going to gift shop or being able to buy an ice cream is an exciting part of the trip for children.
I’m a guiding leader and we are always clear when need own card as places are cash free. Some parents ignore it. Obviously we will help if we can but it’s hassle eg Blackpool pleasure beach a girl couldn’t buy her lunch as it’s cashless. She was upset. A leader had to leave her own lunch walk over, comfort girl and pay for her out of her own pocket.
Ordering and paying for a drink or paying in a shop are often life skills lots of children don’t have. It’s part of the trip as much as visiting the museum etc. They always feel proud of themselves and excited.