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Original poster

Go Henry card

29 replies

Richtea2 · 13/01/2022 11:20

Hi,
This morning I signed up for a go Henry card for my son he is nearly 15. He had been asking for a bank card for some time. But because I need to do his passport and his birth certificate not with me want something easy. I thought it be great as his birthday coming up.
I have now seen so much bad reviews on this and want to cancel it. What should I do?
It says 30days you can cancel..I really don't want to give him and then take it away.
He will be upset.
Advice please.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 13/01/2022 11:26

My 2 got a current account with card from age 11. I wasn't going to pay for something they can get free from the bank

DoormatBob · 13/01/2022 11:27

I know a couple of people with them who think they're great. What are the bad reviews? It's basically just a prepaid bank card?

I thought it seemed expensive for a child's account but I guess it depends how much money you put through it.

elelel · 13/01/2022 11:31

I don't know anything about Go Henry other than it costs money when a current account is not only free but more realistic for a teenager.

Cancel the Go Henry while you can, your 14 year old may be upset but it's important that you can resolve this. Why do you not have his documents?

elelel · 13/01/2022 11:32

You don't need his passport btw. Birth certificate and your ID is sufficient. A child benefit letter or similar is helpful too.

Tigresswoods · 13/01/2022 11:33

This really winds me up. Why pay every month for something that's available for free & your child will ultimately have to sort out anyway?!

Marketing.

IDontHaveThePelvisForAFuton · 13/01/2022 12:34

I opened a teen account for dd with Nationwide online. We then took dds birth certificate to a branch and I had to provide proof of address as her parent. I think I took council tax and my own bank statement.

Are you saying you don't have a birth certificate for ds? That should be enough, you won't need a passport as well.

BarbaraofSeville · 13/01/2022 12:37

Just get him a young persons bank account with most banks, for free. The charges for GoHenry are ridiculous for what is likely to be small amounts of money in most cases.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/cards-for-under-18s/#childrenbankaccounts

DeltaAlphaDelta · 13/01/2022 12:38

DS14 has had a gohenry card for a few years. The monthly fee is less than £3 and its handy to set up jobs that he gets paid for as his pocket money. No problems with it all, and a few of his friends have them, again with no issues.

We have been discussing getting a proper bank account, but just haven't got round to it yet. There's no immediate rush and we are all happy with gohenry so will stick with that for the time being.

Hemingwayzcatz · 13/01/2022 12:41

Go Henry is a rip off. I signed up to it and honestly had no idea I had to pay a subscription for it each month. When the first money left my account I contacted them like WTF? Why should I pay every month for my children to access their money? It’s a bonkers idea. Just get a regular bank account.

Mundra · 13/01/2022 12:43

The costs are ridiculous IMO. If it's remote sign up, isntt there a 14 day cancellation period? I thought that was statutory?

Branleuse · 13/01/2022 12:44

I use gohenry for my teens. I find it very practical

YouDoIDo · 13/01/2022 12:45

I set my son up a Barclays current account he gets he’s own card and you can personalise it with a picture of their choice. It’s also free, pp saying it’s only £3 a month that’s £36 extra for your child a year.

elelel · 13/01/2022 12:45

@Mundra

The costs are ridiculous IMO. If it's remote sign up, isntt there a 14 day cancellation period? I thought that was statutory?

OP has said here is 30 days

IcedCoffeeMilkshake · 13/01/2022 12:48

My DS1 got an HSBC account when he turned 11. It is free, and comes with a debit card. I looked at go henry but thought the monthly fee represents 20% of his monthly pocket money so it was a non starter!

parietal · 13/01/2022 12:49

gohenry are fine but are really aimed at the under 10s getting pocket money.

For a 15 year old, I'd cancel it and get him a proper bank account because he will need an adult account in a few years anyway.

IcedCoffeeMilkshake · 13/01/2022 12:50

(before I sound too cheap though he does earn extra for chores and all that).

ProudThrilledHappy · 13/01/2022 12:52

Ds has a go henry and the advantage of it is that I can log in to his account and take money out as well as put in. Also the transfers / payments from me to him are instant, so if he is out on a Sunday with friends and needs money he can call me and I can put it in straight away

itwasntaparty · 13/01/2022 12:56

My kids have it they're 8 and it's great for them. I can't imagine a 15yo wanting Go Henry!

dementedpixie · 13/01/2022 12:56

Payments from my bank account to my dcs' bank accounts are also instant as they go through the faster payments system.

BarbaraofSeville · 13/01/2022 12:58

Also the transfers / payments from me to him are instant, so if he is out on a Sunday with friends and needs money he can call me and I can put it in straight away

So the same as every single standard UK current account including children's ones?

Not sure why you'd want to take money out of his account, but if you wanted to do this, you could always ask him to send it to you. Or not send his next pocket money if he owed you money for some reason.

I understand the benefit of monitoring their spending, but don't think it's worth paying £3 a month for when other banks offer a very similar product for free.

If I wanted to incentise/control behaviour, I'd probably cut out the middle man and offer some of the £3 a month to them as bonus for following agreed rules. Eg they could have an extra pound or two a month as long as they didn't buy things I'd told him I didn't want to, made money last a certain period, saved up for something instead of spending on rubbish, or whatever the perceived advantage of GoHenry buys.

GiltEdges · 13/01/2022 13:05

I would have though 15 was a little old for a GoHenry account. Have a look at Nationwide online.

Jota67 · 13/01/2022 13:07

15 is a bit old for a Go Henry. I would ge thin a normal bank card.

My DD had a Go Henry from age 11 to 13.
It charges a fee every time you top it up or transfer money to then.

It's good for you get kids as you can transfer money instantly, can see what they are spending and set up chores etc if you want.

For older kids they won't like the lack of privacy, the babyish cards and the facts the cards cannot be used for certain online sites.

So I would get him a normal bank card and cancel Go Henry

Original poster
Richtea2 · 13/01/2022 13:50

@DeltaAlphaDelta

DS14 has had a gohenry card for a few years. The monthly fee is less than £3 and its handy to set up jobs that he gets paid for as his pocket money. No problems with it all, and a few of his friends have them, again with no issues.

We have been discussing getting a proper bank account, but just haven't got round to it yet. There's no immediate rush and we are all happy with gohenry so will stick with that for the time being.

I just don't want to give him and take it away. I wonder if I should try it until he is 16. I don't want him getting use to it if I change it. I actually can't get him proper bank account just yet.
OP posts:
Original poster
Richtea2 · 13/01/2022 13:55

@Hemingwayzcatz

Go Henry is a rip off. I signed up to it and honestly had no idea I had to pay a subscription for it each month. When the first money left my account I contacted them like WTF? Why should I pay every month for my children to access their money? It’s a bonkers idea. Just get a regular bank account.
How did you cancel it? This all I need to know because it gets sent. I already put money in there too. So not sure if I let him use it for awhile but explain its a temporary card I will get him a proper bank account when I sort passport and birth certificate. As it's not with at the moment.
OP posts:
elelel · 13/01/2022 14:14

You can get a birth certificate easily, then you need your own ID. It's not a big thing, getting a bank account. Surely he can wait a week for a card?