Page 3 | To think secondary aged children need access to bank accounts

blacktop · 08/08/2020 16:50

@Linnet

The original account would be a savings account, so yes she also needs to open a current account.

MrsTravers · 08/08/2020 17:01

Totally agree. It's important they learn how to use it/budget. And even more important at the moment when so many places won't take cash. DD1 forgot to take her card into town last week and, in need of a drink, got turned away by 3 places who wouldn't take cash. She was lucky that she found somewhere that did, but it really put her off going out.

canigooutyet · 08/08/2020 18:26

And of course we all know we cannot rely on the machines in the shops to work. Lost count of the number of times it's been cash only!!

Anyone else getting weird looks at the moment when they are at a cash point? Although loving the lack of queues 🤣

Linnet · 08/08/2020 19:29

[quote blacktop]@Linnet

The original account would be a savings account, so yes she also needs to open a current account.[/quote]
I understand that but what was frustrating was the fact that they couldn’t just swap everything over/open a new account when they already had all the details in the system and I had signed to say she lives in my house and they had copied her ID. In the phone appointment the woman even said you already have an account I’m just going to swap everything over. We had to wait over a week for a phone appointment then go back down to sign and photocopy everything again and then in the end they didn’t even give her a contactless card.

Also if people are looking to open accounts for their 11 year olds who have never had one before, where do you put any cheques they get for birthdays and Christmas?

blacktop · 08/08/2020 19:38

I understand that but what was frustrating was the fact that they couldn’t just swap everything over/open a new account when they already had all the details in the system

That's 100% normal.

netflixismysidehustle · 08/08/2020 19:48

Yanbu to think that a y7 needs access to a bank card.

Bus can usually be prepaid by you (app) and school dinners can be paid by you (app) too but you're right to think that there could be an unexpected expense that these wouldn't cover.

The bank that you use will probably have the simplest opening system.

Linnet · 08/08/2020 20:14

@blacktop

I understand that but what was frustrating was the fact that they couldn’t just swap everything over/open a new account when they already had all the details in the system

That's 100% normal.

But at times like this, in the middle of a pandemic, you’d think they could make it a bit easier. We had already been in with ID and signed paperwork. It’s not like we were opening a totally new account with a new bank we are already customers and have been for years.

ThePlantsitter · 08/08/2020 20:16

I have still got the account I opened when I was 12 with HSBC so honestly whichever bank gets this sorted quickest will probably be getting customers for life.

ExtraOnions · 08/08/2020 20:33

I use Go Henry .. really easy to set up, easy to add money to, and I can manage it from my parent account

louleey · 08/08/2020 20:40

Who do you bank with? I opened one for my DS fairly recently, with Lloyd’s. Or do you believe this is something they have changed since lockdown as a way of keeping down the numbers coming into banks?

blacktop · 08/08/2020 20:58

But at times like this, in the middle of a pandemic, you’d think they could make it a bit easier.

Well no, a pandemic doesn't mean the banks can drop the rope in terms of security. The rules are very strict.

It’s not like we were opening a totally new account with a new bank we are already customers and have been for years.

But your DD had a seatings account and wanted to open a current account so opening a totally new account is exactly what you were doing.

I know it seems like a pita but the bank acted entirely correctly in that situations

blacktop · 08/08/2020 20:58

*saving

GrumpyHoonMain · 08/08/2020 21:02

@allthethinkz

My DD is 11 and starting secondary school next month. As she will be travelling to school independently I tried to open an account for her today. It seems that most if not all of the High Street banks have withdrawn the facility to open new accounts for 11-12 year olds at this time. Are other people aware of this? Its as if they see it as a novelty for these children rather thsn an essential. But it will put children at risk if they lose or run out of money for bus/train and end up having to walk home or wait alone somewhere. AIBU to think this should be seen as an essential service, and that if pubs and swimming pools are open then the banks should be able to provide child accounts?

Go with Revolut or Monzo.

Samcj02 · 08/08/2020 21:15

Hi, I have just opened one at NatWest for my daughter who’s 11. We done the application online then took documents into our local branch x

Samcj02 · 08/08/2020 21:17

Unfortunately also she had to go with a different bank to the rest of the family as Halifax are not opening new accounts at present x

malloo · 08/08/2020 21:25

Same issue here OP, been a lot of hassle trying to find a bank which would open an account for an 11yr old. I don't get why you can't do an application mostly online then just take in your ID, but they insist you have to do it in branch, but lots if places won't do it at the moment. I wanted her to get a Nationwide account because their card has no charge if you use it abroad but they're not opening accounts for 11 or 12 yr olds just now. Tried TSB, spent half an hour in there in which time they completely failed to open an account or make an appointment to do it, very odd. It was like we were the first people ever to ask to open a bank account! Walked out in the end and finally managed to get one open at Royal Bank of Scotland, took a while but they were really good. Turns out the card is not contactless which is a shame but at least it's a debit card. Hope you get something sorted.

PaquitaVariation · 08/08/2020 21:27

@Linnet

My dd is 16 and has had an account at the TSB since she was a baby. When she turned 16 this year we had to go in and sign forms so that I could pay money into her account and I was under the impression that what we had done was upgraded the account to an under 19’s account. We were told she couldn’t have a card at the moment because of Covid, all of this was back in May.

Last week we went to the bank to pay in another cheque and ask again about getting a card seeing as everyone wants you to pay contactless and this meant if she was out it was harder to pay for things. It turned out that she hadn’t been upgraded to an under 19’s account and they can’t just switch it over they need to open a whole new account with proof of id and address etc, even though she already has an account!

The under 19’s account can’t be opened online and they can’t do apppointments in the bank so she had to do a phone appointment then we had to go down the next day with proof of age etc, which we had done in May and they already have, to finish setting up the account. So it was all done and she was told a card would be sent out and we thought all was well.

The bank card arrived this week and it’s not contactless. We went back to the bank and asked about it and were told that if you are under 18 they don’t give you a contactless card but you can setup google pay/applepay on your phone instead!

It was such a hassle and in the end we didn’t even get Exactly what we wanted. Dd has set up gogglepay on her phone but she really just wanted a contactless card so if her phone runs out or she doesn’t have it she can still pay. She can still pay by putting the card in the card machine but she wants to limit what she’s touching when she out.

Also her friend who is with a different bank got a contactless card for under 18’s so we don’t understand why ours doesn’t.

Technically you can go overdrawn with a contactless card, so they can’t give them to under-18s. Apple Pay takes the money straightaway and wouldn’t allow it to go overdrawn which is why it’s allowed.

PlanDeRaccordement · 08/08/2020 21:29

I agree OP. If you can’t get an account, you can always buy and load up season ticket on a bus smart card with your debit card and your child’s name as the user on it.

UselessTrees · 08/08/2020 21:49

Santander's 123 Mini current account information page says they can issue contactless debit cards. But their staff member told me to 'come back when this is all over' , so we might be waiting some time to get one of those. I've now applied online at Natwest, fingers crossed they let me and DD into the branch to finish setting it up.

Monzo seems like you have to be over 16. Revolut looks interesting, but the reviews for their kids app and their service in general are decidedly mixed.

imissthesouth · 08/08/2020 22:01

These days I think you do. Maybe no so much when we was children (although I always had one for as long as I could remember) we're turning into a cashless society whether people like it or not, it's going to happen at some point. (I think COVID has accelerated this) Have you looked at nationwide? That's who my children are with

blacktop · 08/08/2020 22:02

Technically you can go overdrawn with a contactless card, so they can’t give them to under-18s.

Not true. Under 18's can have contactless.

Callingallskeletons · 08/08/2020 22:04

Have you looked at Go Henry OP?
Our nieces have them and my BIL says they are brilliant

blacktop · 08/08/2020 22:07

@Callingallskeletons

Have you looked at Go Henry OP? Our nieces have them and my BIL says they are brilliant

Go Henry is ridiculous, paying for something you can get for free

High school kids with Go Henry? No. Just no.

Sarahplane · 08/08/2020 22:08

rbs/natwest and bank of scotland are opening them online or in person.

AriettyHomily · 08/08/2020 23:08

Gohenry or open a monzo in your name and give them the card, no fees.