Redditor's Parents Won't Let Them Access The Money They Earned Working As A 14-Year-Old

OP's mom told them that they can access the money when they turn 16 years old, but that was a lie.

Senad

• Published in Interesting
• September 24, 2023

Teenagers often take their first steps into the world of financial independence through part-time jobs. Earning your own money can be an exhilarating experience, but what happens when those hard-earned dollars go missing?

At the tender age of 14, OP embarked on their first job, an experience that many of us can relate to. Eager to embrace the world of work, they entrusted the task of setting up a bank account to their mother, believing that everything was in order. However, this initial trust in their parent led to what would become a significant financial misadventure.

OP was informed that their newly established bank account would be accessible when they turned 15. This arrangement seemed reasonable at the time, and life continued as usual.

Fast forward 1.5 years, and OP transitioned to a new job, deciding to take charge of their financial affairs by completing their banking forms independently. It was then that they discovered a discrepancy in their financial situation.

Curious about their existing account, OP asked their mother for the details, only to be met with the surprising news that a new account had been created instead. This unexpected revelation marked the start of a baffling series of events.

To further complicate matters, OP's family underwent significant turmoil, leading to their decision to move out and live independently at the age of 16, which is legally permissible in some places. Determined to assert their independence, OP moved to a new location and attempted to access their supposed savings.

However, upon arriving at the bank, they were confronted with a disconcerting reality: there was only one account in their name, and it didn't contain the $2,000 they had worked hard to earn.

Bewildered and anxious, OP contacted their mother for clarification. In a chaotic exchange, it became apparent that the funds had never been transferred to OP's control.

Instead, their mother had stashed away the money, claiming it was in a savings account that OP couldn't access until they turned 16. The reasons for this decision were unclear, as OP was of the legal age to possess their earnings.

OP started working at the young age of 14 and their parents took over the process of opening a bank account

OP moved out to live alone when they turned 16 years old

OP found out that they didn't have access to the money they made

Something that OP wanted to buy for years went on sale, but their mom and dad wouldn't borrow them the money for it

OP's father went off on them, saying that they're a failure

OP is furious, and rightly so

OP decided to seek legal advice in an attempt to get their money back

Sounds like theft to me

Time to sue your parents

A costly lesson

The story ultimately leaves us with a sense of frustration and injustice. OP's hard-earned money, amounting to $2,000, remains beyond their reach, locked in an account that they were told was theirs but that they can't access.

Their attempts to assert control over their finances were met with resistance, leaving them feeling powerless and frustrated.

Senad