topic Re: Credit Card for Minor in Credit Cards

Credit Card for Minor

Anonymous — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:08:18 GMT

JCPenny let my 17 year old sign up for a credit card. He was denied. He didn't have any credit to begin with. Now the only thing he will have on there is an inquiry. Does anyone know the law concerning this? I have chewed his butt out for doing this and I need to know where I stand before I call JCPenny.

Re: Credit Card for Minor

Anonymous — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:15:51 GMT

there's usually a clause in T&C in the app form that he has to be 18 years old at least to apply.

Your son agreed to the terms and conditions and went ahead with it.

I think there's nothing you can do for now other than sorting it out with your son. It's just 1 inquiry anyways.

I don't think JCPenny can do anything about it and you shouldn't pursue this with them either. It might just complicate things for your son because technically he commited fraudulent misrepresentation. Not that JCPenny or anyone is going to care nor is your son going to get prosecuted though.

Re: Credit Card for Minor

Burned2manybridgesB4 — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:59:34 GMT

JCP...should've told him to do Sears.

It could be removed, but as previously mentioned, it'd be a headache. It'll age off.

Re: Credit Card for Minor

culture — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:02:37 GMT

isnt the resposability of the person filing the card to let them know he needed to be 18 ?

I guess the bonus for getting a card signed was more important to that employee than the rules...

Re: Credit Card for Minor

Burned2manybridgesB4 — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:04:24 GMT

Two way street. The DOB should've been given, shouldn't it? I've never done an "in store app" that didn't ask for my ID.

Re: Credit Card for Minor

Anonymous — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:29:34 GMT

@culture wrote:
isnt the resposability of the person filing the card to let them know he needed to be 18 ?

I guess the bonus for getting a card signed was more important to that employee than the rules...

it can be done many ways without the sales or any CSR intervention.

for example, you could have filled in those forms for credit application, which is then mailed to a processing center (the traditional way).

or he could have input everything into the computer on his own.

Also, the sales person is just there to input the data as it is told to him, not to provide credit counseling or advice. Of course, the irony is that some of those sales are given commission for each credit app they get customers to do, but there's really nothing illegal about it. They did not force the customer to do it nor did they do it without their consent.

A lot of times the CSRs can't be bothered to calculate your age as well either. Same thing for drug stores / gas stations that will sell cigarettes to anyone who provides a driver's license without a red line across it (which means that individual is >21years old) without actually paying attention to your exact birth date.

Of course the sales rep is at fault as well. But there's nothing much that can be done other than making the problem bigger than it ought to be.

Re: Credit Card for Minor

culture — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:34:15 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@culture wrote:
isnt the resposability of the person filing the card to let them know he needed to be 18 ?

I guess the bonus for getting a card signed was more important to that employee than the rules...
it can be done many ways without the sales or any CSR intervention.
for example, you could have filled in those forms for credit application, which is then mailed to a processing center (the traditional way).
or he could have input everything into the computer on his own.

Also, the sales person is just there to input the data as it is told to him, not to provide credit counseling or advice. Of course, the irony is that some of those sales are given commission for each credit app they get customers to do, but there's really nothing illegal about it. They did not force the customer to do it nor did they do it without their consent.

A lot of times the CSRs can't be bothered to calculate your age as well either. Same thing for drug stores / gas stations that will sell cigarettes to anyone who provides a driver's license without a red line across it (which means that individual is >21years old) without actually paying attention to your exact birth date.

Of course the sales rep is at fault as well. But there's nothing much that can be done other than making the problem bigger than it ought to be.

my premise was thinking it was done in store....

Re: Credit Card for Minor

youngandcreditwrthy — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:46:05 GMT

Did he lie about his age?
I used to harrass people into signing up for JCP cards all the time when I worked there was number one at my store with 500+ apps in a year (I received about $2k worth of bonuses! Lol)
My point is that the system they use will not let you proceed with the app if the inputed birthdate indicates the applicant is under 18.

Re: Credit Card for Minor

b_seeker — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:57:59 GMT

I may be overstepping here, but shouldn't you want your kid to build up credit? I understand people can get into trouble very easily with credit and this is going behind your back, but at 17, you should be looking to build some credit since a lot of important things in the future will be based on actually having something on file.

Re: Credit Card for Minor

starry1 — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:00:56 GMT

@b_seeker wrote:
I may be overstepping here, but shouldn't you want your kid to build up credit? I understand people can get into trouble very easily with credit and this is going behind your back, but at 17, you should be looking to build some credit since a lot of important things in the future will be based on actually having something on file.

Its not legal. No one under 18 can be legally held responsible for contracts they sign.

Re: Credit Card for Minor

b_seeker — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:03:34 GMT

@starry1 wrote:
@b_seeker wrote:
I may be overstepping here, but shouldn't you want your kid to build up credit? I understand people can get into trouble very easily with credit and this is going behind your back, but at 17, you should be looking to build some credit since a lot of important things in the future will be based on actually having something on file.

Its not legal. No one under 18 can be legally held responsible for contracts they sign.

Sorry, I meant as an AU or something. I didn't explain myself well. My bad.

Re: Credit Card for Minor

daybreakgonesXe — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:17:29 GMT

@youngandcreditwrthy wrote:
Did he lie about his age?
I used to harrass people into signing up for JCP cards all the time when I worked there was number one at my store with 500+ apps in a year (I received about $2k worth of bonuses! Lol)
My point is that the system they use will not let you proceed with the app if the inputed birthdate indicates the applicant is under 18.

I concur. As a current JCP employee, the system will NOT let you continue with the application if the applicant is under 18.

Furthermore, the employee doesn't directly enter the birthdate into the system anymore (unless one uses the Libby's (iTouch) and takes the information from the person directly, but I prefer to hand it off to the customer to enter their own information), and even attempting to type it in manually is a hassle because for some reason the computer wants you to type it using the signature pad, not via keyboard...

So either a.) the son lied about his birthdate on the application or b.) the salesperson forced the son to lie about his birthdate. I'd say 98% chance it was part a, and 2% chance part b...because every so often you will come across that one salesperson who is all about apps, and doesn't care how they get them, as long as they get their bonus and recognition.

Re: Credit Card for Minor

Anonymous — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:20:54 GMT

This was done in the store. I'm thinking that they just asked him for his information. I am upset with my son because he just gave his information out without thinking and I am upset with JCPenny for trying to lure a 17 year old to a useless clothing credit card. As for building up his credit, I would much rather he get a secured visa instead of a JCPenny.

Re: Credit Card for Minor

daybreakgonesXe — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:34:09 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
This was done in the store. I'm thinking that they just asked him for his information. I am upset with my son because he just gave his information out without thinking and I am upset with JCPenny for trying to lure a 17 year old to a useless clothing credit card. As for building up his credit, I would much rather he get a secured visa instead of a JCPenny.

Unfortunately, things like this happen. Although we're suppose to check his ID and validate the information, it's possible the associate took his ID, entered his name and address, then let him fill in the rest. If the birthdate entered coincided with someone who was 18 or over, the application would be processed.

Is is possible your son entered a birthdate that's 18 or over for HIS own benefit? Yes. Is is possible the associate didn't know he wasn't 18? Yes. Is it possible the associate told him to enter it as if he was 18, for the ASSOCIATES benefit? Yes.

As associates, we are pressured by upper management into getting as many CC apps as possible. It's an extra $2 per paycheck, and the more you get, the more recognition and potential bonuses you can receive. However, the company is not to be blamed for this. Shame on the associate for not double checking the birth date, like they're suppose to do, and though I will not shame your son, he should have realized that lying on a CC application is wrong, regardless if the associate told him to do it or not. At 17, although one is a minor, you know what you're doing. He had the option to walk away. It is possible he had absolutely no clue about the age requirements, but considering that the age requirement is crucial to the application, he had to have known if he was entering his own information, which is how majority of the applications go.

I'm sorry this happened, but look at it this way: a.) he was denied the card. no card, no problem! and b.) it's one inquiry, and there's most likely no other ones on his report if he has no credit. He's going to have to acquire a student/secured card anyways, and 1 inquiry on TU isn't going to demolish those plans for when he's 18 and over.

At this point, it's easier to just walk away from the situation, and maybe have a talk with your son about the proper way to establish and apply for credit! That would be the best next step teenagers make mistakes all the time! life happens!

Re: Credit Card for Minor

Anonymous — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:39:52 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
This was done in the store. I'm thinking that they just asked him for his information. I am upset with my son because he just gave his information out without thinking and I am upset with JCPenny for trying to lure a 17 year old to a useless clothing credit card. As for building up his credit, I would much rather he get a secured visa instead of a JCPenny.

I can understand being upset that he did what he did and was allowed to do it while underage, but the truth is that once he's 18 (which I assume is soon) it's really his choice. I wouldn't call a store card "useless" either - many offer discounts/coupons and gift cards for birthdays/reaching spending limits. Hardly useless.

If you'd prefer that he get a secured Visa instead of a store card then you should probably sit and have a serious talk with him about the credit world and hope that it sinks in, but you have to keep in mind that his priorities may be different from yours. My son's not even 8 yet and he already has a basic understanding of credit because we openly discuss finances with him to make sure he doesn't do the silly things we did when we were younger lol

Re: Credit Card for Minor

CreditScholar — Fri, 10 May 2013 02:21:55 GMT

It sounds like your son isn't as innocent in this matter as you make it out to be.

If he gave them correct information (including DOB), it wouldn't have gone through. If it did, then the information he gave them wasn't exactly truthful. If you're going to be upset at anyone, you should look to your son first not JCP.