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Comment by mcpherrinm | Hacker News Reader

Teenagers probably have a bank account. If not a credit card, then it's likely a debit card from a bank.

But really, why not have a credit card? If she's not building debt, I don't see a problem with having one.

In the U.S. it is illegal to offer credit to anyone under the age of 18 as they cannot legally enter into contracts. It would be a huge liability for a credit card company as the contract for credit (and thus right to request repayment) would essentially never be valid, although presumably they could go after the person's legal guardians for payment.

> In the U.S. it is illegal to offer credit to anyone under the age of 18 as they cannot legally enter into contracts

Minors can legally enter into contracts. Those contracts are entirely binding on the non-minor party. The minor is the one that can repudiate the contract before the age of majority to void it, but otherwise, it's a perfectly valid contract. If the minor remains bound past the age of majority, the contract can no longer be voided, either.

There are credit cards marketed directly to teens.

Isn't it possible to use a 'family' card---that is your parents credit line but the card has your name on it?

yes, this is, however the underage person can't be held liable for charges, basically its the parent's card but they authorized the child to use it (its not supposed to count for the child's credit score either but they usually put it on anyways)

But that would solve the issue of tracking issue by giving her a personal card to use?

For what it's worth, I'm a US citizen and I got a credit card a few months before I turned 18; I was just starting college, and they must have used that bit of data to offer me a card.

I'm not disagreeing with having a credit card; I just didn't think anyone would give one to you if you were under 18.

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