I'm sure you can use UK-based proxies to download BBC stuff. I think there is info about that at www.ruletheweb.net

If you don't want non-American readers, Consumerist, let us know and we'll leave.

@enm4r: Actually, people do get credit in their child(ren)'s name all the time. Its pretty easy to do, especially with utility companies and revolving credit. Its unfortunate that a whole generation of children are coming into adulthood with jacked up credit through no fault of their own.

@urban_ninjya: Kill it with fire.

@rocnrule: Because it hates you.

Why does consumerist continously send me to this post instead of the most recent???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

now that's credit history! unfortunately, when my dad passed away, i was also showing as deceased. it only took 3 years & about 6 rounds of correspondence to fix that.

@enm4r: the kid isn't legally responsible b/c s/he is not old enough. the parent, however, would be engaging in a whole load of criminal activity by opening credit lines under their child's name with the intention of nonpayment. that's probably what stops it from happening.

What's to stop me from (when possible) trying to scam the sytem to get a card in my kids name, running it up, then pointing out the fact that they were under 18, and not even legally capable of entering the contract?

It can't be as simple as "kids aren't liable for the credit" or you'd have people doing that all the time.

She was worrying about him destroying his credit? I'd be worried about what exactly he would buy. $18,000 buys you enough power to cause some damage.

I think they out to ban creditcard offers in the mail completely. They give out way too much information about you.

You can't just throw it straight away because it has your name and address on there, and it can be used in identity theft. And you can't shred it either. There's usually a fake plastic card in there that has your name on it. So I end up having to open the mail, cutting up the card by hand, then shredding the rest. All which is a big waste of time.

Bullshit. I'm in east Texas. Consumerist: please do not use any more AOL News media, ok?

Thats how my fiancee's sisters boyfriend had his credit DESTROYED by the time he was 14. His father used his sons name and they confused the SSN and info. So his father took out morgages and credit cards under the sons name and SSN while he himself wasnt even of age but SHOWED to be of the same age as his father.

And even after showing this to them and trying to get it straightened out, he and his family are still paying for it over a year after his father committed suicide over the sheer amount of debt his father racked up.

The only way your going to be able to fix this mess is to completely reform the system, which government officials will never do since they all get big payoffs to keep the system broken.

If they let people open credit card accounts in their children's (and pets' and trees') names then it isn't that large a leap to send the cards to kids unsolicited.

Guess I should have watched the video first.
" Kyle is a victim of identity theft"
Exactly where in the video does it say that Kyle is definately a victim of ID theft?????????????
It is merely one of many possibilities. Love how consumerist likes to draw its own conclusions.
The kid shouls destroy the cards but keep the accounts and a 0 balance so when he's 18, he'll have outstanding credit.

How can that happen? The credit bureaus should be able to know how old you are w/ your SSN. If somebody is under 18, they're not legally liable anyways, at least where I am at. Identity theft is not the problem, its all the holes in the whole credit and ID systems.

That is just disturbing. Getting a credit card in this country has become WAY too easy.