[skiddie2003]

Hello,

I am 16 and have a Lloyds TSB bank account.

What is the minimum age to have a direct debit?

Thanks,
Stephen.

[blueblade]

If you have a bank account and a regular income, I think you could set one up now.

[dslrocks]

It depends on the type of account which you have. Some accounts do not support them full stop.

[Rian1988]

Sorry to be nosey but what would you need a DD for at the age of 16?

[skiddie2003]

Thanks for your replies.

What it is I phoned T-Mobile (call centre) last night about a Flext tariff and the person I spoke to wasn't very clear and made it sound like there is no minimum age as long as you can set up a direct debit. I think I might phone and ask again.

I phoned my local T-Mobile store, and a O2 store and they say the minimum age is 18 to have a contract, but the callcentre said differently.

[Stan_777]

Originally Posted by skiddie2003

I phoned my local T-Mobile store, and a O2 store and they say the minimum age is 18 to have a contract, but the callcentre said differently.

That 18 thing sounds like there own company policy, not the law.

Adam

[Glen]

Originally Posted by AdamRan

That 18 thing sounds like there own company policy, not the law.

Adam

No, it is the law.
You can't be held liable to any kind of finacial contral if you are under 18, so a mobile phone company isn't going to give a minor a phone contract as they would have no legal power to recover the money if they didn't pay up.

A direct debit is a seperate issue, it really depends on the bank account. I couldn't get a DD on my kids account (I wanted a magazine subscription - which takes the payment in advance so no age issue), but the crappy account didn't have that facilty, so I waited 'til I was 18 to get a proper current account.

Some kids accounts give Solo/Electron debit cards so may have the facilty for DDs, but you will have to find something that will take payment in advance as any kind of contract that needs to take payment in arrears isn't any option until you are 18.

[CitySlicker]

You must be aged 18+ to sign a contract, as under this you are deemed to be a minor and not permitted to sign as an adult (as far as my understanding of the law goes).

You can still have a direct debit against your account (so long as the type of account you have permits this), I knew someone who had a basic post office account so couldn't have a debit set up, but they used their 15 year old's bank account for the debit instead. The contract (Sky TV) was signed in the adult's name, with the child's bank account.

I've looked into the terms of Flext, and unfortunately you don't appear to qualify being only 16 I'm afraid.

[Migster]

Originally Posted by AdamRan

That 18 thing sounds like there own company policy, not the law.

Adam

I think you will definitely need to be 18 as a mobile contract is basically a form of credit and therefore the Consumer Credit Act applies.

[Stan_777]

Originally Posted by Glen

No, it is the law.
You can't be held liable to any kind of finacial contral if you are under 18, so a mobile phone company isn't going to give a minor a phone contract as they would have no legal power to recover the money if they didn't pay up.

A direct debit is a seperate issue, it really depends on the bank account. I couldn't get a DD on my kids account (I wanted a magazine subscription - which takes the payment in advance so no age issue), but the crappy account didn't have that facilty, so I waited 'til I was 18 to get a proper current account.

Some kids accounts give Solo/Electron debit cards so may have the facilty for DDs, but you will have to find something that will take payment in advance as any kind of contract that needs to take payment in arrears isn't any option until you are 18.

Sorry, I see, my mistake, I though it was 16 to enter into a contract.

Adam