Minors with credit cards?

[student4ever]

got news for ya SD... kids as young as 13 have been able to get a VISA or MC card for a good long time. Now, they are technically ATM cards, but they work just like a CC going against a bank account so I don't think that the systems know the difference.

We recently signed my son up for a 'student account' with our bank and one of the options was for him to get a VISA ATM card. He just turned 14. Needless to say, in our house, he didn't get the VISA card.

Between things like this and kids being able to get their hands on Mom's and Dad's CC's, the ability to charge online has not been a reliable 'age verification' for quite some time.

[Way3]

Although I agree that teaching kids financial responsibility is critical, I am not a fan of credit cards as to the method of teaching! I think that the financial institutions that are offering this, many times have alterior motives, with more concern about getting a customer early than the teaching of financial responsibility! Just my 2 cents worth!