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- Feb 7, 2013
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My son is apparently about to learn a very valuable lesson.
He's in high school and is good about not really wasting his money. It's in the bank in an account but he doesn't have a debit card (since he immediately 'misplaced' it when we first opened it when he was around 12 or so). So he feels he doesn't have ready access to it like he wants. Well of course all his friends have them and he can't understand why he hasn't been allowed to have one. We do NOT use them.
I got frustrated explaining to him multiple times about the risk but you know how smart internet friends are.....
I finally caved and allowed him to purchase a $300 Visa debit from the store. He uses it for small vending type purchases for school. That's it. He was wanting to make some online purchases (Amazon/Ebay) but there was a problem with the card, security code was missing so he couldn't use it online. So he had to order a new one. I told him to make sure and check that they transferred the balance correctly. Guess what? It was missing $115 from the new card. We called and there was a hold at the "Atlanta Westin" for $100 + $15 gratuity the day BEFORE the card even arrived and after the old one had been cancelled. (No, he's never been there, doesn't even have a driver's license). Of course getting through to someone at any of those hotels (there are three) that can give you an answer is like contacting the president. I have a suspicion he just might lose this money and maybe, just maybe, he'll think twice next time I tell him something isn't safe.
Sometimes you have to make those "life tuition payments".
He's in high school and is good about not really wasting his money. It's in the bank in an account but he doesn't have a debit card (since he immediately 'misplaced' it when we first opened it when he was around 12 or so). So he feels he doesn't have ready access to it like he wants. Well of course all his friends have them and he can't understand why he hasn't been allowed to have one. We do NOT use them.
I got frustrated explaining to him multiple times about the risk but you know how smart internet friends are.....
I finally caved and allowed him to purchase a $300 Visa debit from the store. He uses it for small vending type purchases for school. That's it. He was wanting to make some online purchases (Amazon/Ebay) but there was a problem with the card, security code was missing so he couldn't use it online. So he had to order a new one. I told him to make sure and check that they transferred the balance correctly. Guess what? It was missing $115 from the new card. We called and there was a hold at the "Atlanta Westin" for $100 + $15 gratuity the day BEFORE the card even arrived and after the old one had been cancelled. (No, he's never been there, doesn't even have a driver's license). Of course getting through to someone at any of those hotels (there are three) that can give you an answer is like contacting the president. I have a suspicion he just might lose this money and maybe, just maybe, he'll think twice next time I tell him something isn't safe.
Sometimes you have to make those "life tuition payments".