SMART CARD - INFORMATION TO PARENTS

Sometime ago Whitgift School introduced a Smart card system in the Dining Hall, Sixth Form Centre and the Tuck Shop for all Lower Third Form and above. The system has speeded up the queues for lunch and significantly reduced the need to carry cash in the School.

How does the system work?

  • A card is issued to each pupil which is used instead of cash when buying a school meal or buying items in the Tuck Shop. The card is swiped at the till and a deduction is made from the credit balance on the card.
  • We can also, if parents wish, put a maximum drawing rate per day on the card. These work in bands: £4.00, £4.50, £5.00, £5.50 or unlimited. This is a daily limit covering all breakfast, tuck and lunch purchases.
  • The card performs in the same way as cash. It is not a charge card. Charges can only be made against an existing credit balance.
  • The card effectively has two credit pockets. In that way money for lunch can be separated from the money that is used for purchases from the Tuck Shop. The system will, however, be sophisticated enough to cope with the boy who wants to buy a sandwich from the Tuck Shop using the credit on the lunch section of the card. For Sixth Form, because their Common Room operates differently, we will put the whole credit in one pocket.

What will be the benefits?

  • There are obvious benefits in terms of security and queuing, but the greatest benefit is that parents know that the money given for lunches is being spent on lunch.
  • It will help parents to pay for lunch, by being able to charge the Smart card by credit or debit card, rather than having to find cash in small change each day.

Greater security

  • The cards have a photograph. In this way we can reduce the possibility of someone taking another boy’s card.
  • The card has a unique identity number. Please keep a record of this number in case the card gets lost and needs to be cancelled.

Replacing lost cards

  • If the card is lost, the Catering Office staff can immediately invalidate it and transfer its remaining credit to a new card.
  • The initial card will be free but a replacement card will need to be bought at a cost of £3.00. This may appear expensive but the cards have a computer chip which needs to be formatted by two companies prior to our receipt and we then have the cost of printing.
  • Boys should retain their card from one year to the next.

Cash

  • To obtain the benefits of the system we really cannot operate a cash and card system together. To try to operate a dual system would slow down operations.
  • First Form boys will continue to pay by cash for tuck shop purchases.

Adding credit to a Smart card

  • From 1st September 2012 the School is introducing the ability to pay for various activities through an online system known as WisePay. This portal will enable parents to pay by credit or debit card for the first time. One such activity will be the adding of credit to Smart cards. Parents will shortly be receiving details of how to access this portal and to make payments.
  • Please decide whether you wish to make credit to one of or both of the School Meals and Tuck pockets. Please ensure that credit is always available for purchases.
  • Should you wish to add a drawing limit please complete the slip at the bottom of this page and return to the Catering Manager.
  • Should you not be able to use WisePay, please complete the slip at the bottom of this page and return to the Catering Manager with a cheque*, ideally before the start of term. Thereafter,either send in a cheque through the mail or give your son a cheque to credit onto his card, which may be done in the Dining Hall at morning break only. Please also indicate if part of the credit is to go on the Tuck Shop section of the card. We have found the best way to do this is to write it on the back of the cheque.

To:WhitgiftSchool Catering Manager

Son’s Name……………………………………………. Form ……………………

DRAWING LIMIT

Please apply a maximum daily drawing rate of £4*, £4.50*, £5.00*, £5.50* to the Smart cardto cover total daily spend.

(*delete if not applicable)

CREDIT FOR SMART CARD

I enclose a cheque* for £ ………….… for the first credit on my son’s Smart Card. Please

splitthe credit £ ………….. for lunches and £ ………….. for a Tuck Shop credit.

Signed ………………………………………………….

PLEASE MARK THE ENVELOPE ‘SMART CARD’ – WITH YOUR SON’S NAME AND FORM

*Cheques are to be made payable to “Chartwells”