- Nothing is possible under the age of 18 without parental consent.
- Be careful with free credit cards!
- Prepaid credit cards can also slip into the red.
Do you want to spend your pocket money on paid apps or online orders? This can sometimes be difficult without a credit card. That's why banks have long had some on offer for children and young people.
Providers specify different minimum ages for a credit card. For some, 7 years is enough. For others you have to be 12, 16 or even 18 years old. But ultimately nothing works without the parents, because anyone who is not yet 18 is generally not allowed to enter into any contracts without their consent.
Cost control with prepaid credit cards? Not always!
To keep track of things, prepaid credit cards are a good option. As with a cell phone, an amount is charged here that can be used.
But be careful! This can also put you in the red and cause you to go into debt - for example, if the card is used in a store where the current account balance is not checked online. Fees such as the annual fee can also lead to a loss. Sometimes your parents have to sign to pay off such debts.
No credit card without fees
No company has anything to give away. Therefore, be wary of advertisements that promise a completely free credit card. In the worst case, it is a lure offer from a dubious credit broker.
Tip: Think about how you want to use the card beforehand and then compare the prices from different providers. Typical fees are for example
- Annual fee for the card (If it is waived, it is often only in the first year!)
- Costs for withdrawing cash from an ATM
- Costs for using the card abroad (paying, withdrawing money, possibly also from foreign online shops)
- Costs for topping up credit (depending on the method: transfer, cash deposit, online payment systems, etc.)
If you want to have a credit card and your parents agree to it, you should definitely compare the costs of several providers together and pay attention to the small print! For example, some banks also charge inactivity fees if you don't use the card at all for a long time. If you read the price lists carefully, you may notice other cost traps. Stiftung Warentest has compared some credit card offers .
Prevent damage
Of course, you should handle your card and data carefully and not leave them anywhere. Under no circumstances should you reveal your PIN to anyone, not even your best friend. And of course it must not be noted on the card!
In order to keep damage as low as possible in an emergency, you can limit the credit card's credit limit. You can then only spend a certain amount per day, week or month. Even a criminal cannot cause any major damage. Such a limit can also be set for ATM withdrawals.
Your bank regularly informs you about transactions, i.e. what was paid with the credit card, how much money was withdrawn and so on. You can usually see this online too. Check the information carefully and contact the bank immediately if anything is wrong.
In the event of theft, credit cards should be blocked immediately. There are special emergency numbers for this. It's best to save these in your cell phone so that you can find them quickly. Many – but not all – providers also participate in the central blocking emergency number 116 116. If you are abroad, you can reach the service on +49 116 116.
Problems booking a hotel or rental car
So that your first vacation doesn't start with problems, please note: Hotels and especially car rental companies often require a credit card when booking in order to block the room price or car rental plus deposit. Prepaid cards are generally not accepted for this.
Source: checked4you
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