A question about pre-payment debit cards for teens.

[Needmorelego]

We are looking into getting a pre-payment card for our 16 year old daughter - hyperjar or starling - something like that.
Starling says she would need photo id (a passport) to apply. Hyperjar is vague to whether as she needs the id or the parent opening the account.
Does anyone know if she has to have a passport to get a hyperjar account?
She doesn't have one (and unlikely to need one). Her Dad has one though so can he open the account?
Thanks.
(She's 16 but autistic which is why she hasn't got a regular bank account)

Actually.....I think we might need to get her a passport anyway. She's probably going to need id for other things in the next few years.

Just get her a provisional driving licence, about £20

@Tulip8 the problem with that is she will then actually want driving lessons - which we can't afford and probably not a good idea with her autism 😬
(she won't understand it's just for id purposes)

OK then get a passport 🙄

(Then she'll want a holiday will be your other excuse)

@Tulip8 it's just kinda annoying to have to pay £88 for a passport that is unlikely to ever be used as a passport.

@Tulip8 I haven't got a passport so she knows that option is out 😂

My original question though.....
If her Dad applies for the hyperjar account on her behalf is he the one who needs id not her?

You should probably just fork out for the passport. She is bound to need ID for other things in future, voting etc.

@HelterSkelter224 yeah ....I suppose so.
Just got to get her to pose for a decent photo 😂

Why can't she have a normal bank account? Only need a birth certificate for some of them and she will need one one day, even if her autism is so bad she can't work then she will require an account to receive benefits.

There may be other advantages to her having a bank account but in terms of a card, have you looked at Rooster or Go Henry or similar. We use Rooster and really rate it.

@noscoobydoodle Go Henry and Rooster you have to pay a fee.
Starling and Hyperjar you don't have too - which is why I like the look of either of those.
It's just the id thing. But if her Dad is the one applying for the account do they need her id too or just his.
Being 16 is a weird limbo. Some stuff she's a "child" some an "adult".
@RagzRebooted we don't want an account where she could accidentally go overdrawn. Regular debit cards you usually can. These pre payment ones you can't.
(at least I think.......)

My dds couldn't go overdrawn on their regular lloyds bank account at that age.

@Thommasina oh thanks. I will look at that.

Yep just checked, the under 19s account doesn't have an overdraft feature.

You can't go overdrawn on a card when you're under 18 because it's a credit agreement.

I agree just go with a high street bank. They will not allow overdrafts on teen accounts.

Ah I see, I bank with NatWest so don't pay for Rooster. For a children's bank account a full birth certificate should be sufficient with proof of address provided by the parent (who is listed on the birth certificate) and the parent will need to prove ID as well.

You are best going into an actual branch and talking to their team about what bank accounts and restrictions that can be put on them. DD is with NatWest their teen account is great. She cant go overdrawn because she's not 18.

At 16 I'm fairly sure yourDD needs to apply for the bank account herself / with your support so that it is in her name rather than someone applying for her.

Children's accounts can't go overdrawn, not if they're under 18.

Thanks everyone 🙂
I think a regular bank account might work. I am her "appointed person" for her DLA/PIP so at the moment her money goes into my account.

HSBC is another good option you need to take I'd and open in branch.

DS had hyperjar after a faff trying to get a bank account and it's not really great. An Adult needed to be on the account and that adult is the only one who can pay into it. So when it come to transferring his pocket money, I had to send it to DH who then had to send it to DS

I don't know what people thought we were asking for but LLoyds and Barclays would only allow DS to open an account with no card and said only 16 year olds plus get a debit card.

He now banks with Natwest who also wouldn't give a card immediately but his job wouldn't pay his wages into someone else's account

Actually.....I think we might need to get her a passport anyway. She's probably going to need id for other things in the next few years

How about getting her a national ID card? They cost £18 (I think) and are much less of a bother to replace than a passport if she loses it. My kids had them when they were younger, even thought they had passports, and they were useful for going to the cinema etc. I've no idea if banks accept them as ID though.