Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A Guide to sQuidcard for Parents/Guardians and Pupils
School Cashless Catering System - During September and October, we will trial the sQuidcard and will accept cards or cash for catering sales throughout this time.
About sQuidcard
Q/ What is a sQuidcard?
A/ sQuidcards are smart cards that hold electronic money (eMoney). The sQuid network uses the internet, smart cards and digital stored value systems to transfer funds.
Q/ What is eMoney?
A/ eMoney is electronic money, which is also referred to as electronic cash, electronic currency, digital money, digital cash or digital currency, where value is exchanged electronically.
Q/How does sQuidcard work?
A/ sQuidcard uses the latest contact-free card technology. Each card has a unique security number that is linked to a specific eMoney account. When you make a purchase, the card reader scans the encrypted code and will either accept or reject the payment, depending on the available funds. This all takes less than 3 seconds.
Q/ Is a sQuidcard like a bank debit card or credit card?
A/No - to use a sQuidcard you must pre-load money onto the card using the internet. You do not need a PIN to use a sQuidcard.
Q/ What personal information will be printed on the card?
A/ The card will be printed with the student’s name, Year 11 exit year i.e. Class of 2009 for the new year 11 and the school name.
Q/ How many different type of sQuidcard are there?
A/ There is only one type of Sheldon sQuidcard and it is available to all students and staff.
My personal sQuidcard
Q/ How much does it cost?
A/ The first sQuidcard will be issued free, but there will be a charge for any replacements (currently £3). There is no charge for using the card.
Q/ I don’t have access to the internet, can I still use my sQuid card?
A/ Yes - you can load your card by sending a cheque with your child (made payable to Sheldon School) to the Finance Office at School where we will credit the amount onto your card for you.
Q/ I don’t have a bank account, can I still use a sQuidcard?
A/ Yes - you can add credit to your card by bringing cash to the Finance Office, where we will load the amount onto your account for you.
Q/ What if you are entitled to Free School Meals?
A/The sQuidcard will be loaded automatically with credit for students who are eligible for free meals. This will be done on a daily basis and any left-over funds will be wiped off at the end of the day, credit will not be carried forward. The cards will look the same for all students so students entitled to FSM will remain anonymous. If you wish you can add to your allowance by topping up your card in the usual way. This additional amount will remain on the card until spent.
Q/What if I am new to the School and waiting for a card to be issued to me?
A/ Until 24th October 2008 (Term 1) the caterers will be accepting sQuidcards and cash, so you will be able to purchase food using cash. After this time you will need to obtain a meal ticket from reception and then repay the School on receipt of your card.
Using sQuidcard
Q/ I have received my card - how do I activate it?
A/ You just need to register and load your credit via the sQuid website (or Sheldon’s Finance Office). Now you’re ready to start using sQuidcard.
Q/ How much can I spend with my sQuidcard?
A/ We have asked parents and £4 seemed to be a maximum spend, so have set a transaction limit of £4.
Q/ How does my sQuidcard work?
A/ Instead of paying with cash, you can pay with sQuidcard. Just tap the card onto the small reader to pay for the transaction. You should check the amount on the screen is correct before waving your card over the reader. Your sQuidcard account is debited straight away. Details of the transaction will appear on your online statement.
Q/ How long does it take to make a payment using a sQuidcard?
A/ A sQuidcard transaction takes less than 3 seconds.
Q/ What if I have forgotten to bring my sQuidcard to school?
A/If you arrive at School and find that you have forgotten your sQuidcard, please go to Reception with your planner, where you can ask to be issued with a meal ticket that will allow you to obtain a school meal. The receptionist will make a note in your planner and the value of the ticket will have to be repaid the next day using your sQuidcard. You will need to go to the Finance Office to do this.
Q/ I have just loaded money onto my account. How long does it take before I can use it?
A/ After you load the card on-line you will immediately see the uploaded value shown as a pending balance. This pending balance is available at the canteen within an hour and is transferred onto the card by presenting the card to a terminal.
Q/ What if I forget to top up my account?
A/Please follow the same procedure as if you had forgotten to bring your sQuidcard to school
Q/ Will the School vending machines be using sQuidcard?
A/The vending machines in the Sports Hall and the Sixth Form currently use cash but they will be changing to sQuidcard at some point in the future.
My sQuid account
Q/ What if I have more than one child in the school?
A/ You will need to create an account on behalf of each child with their individual card registered to that specific account. We suggest you make the sQuid account “Username” child specific.
Q/ How do I load money onto my sQuidcard?
A/ You can top up your sQuidcard account online via the school website using the link which will take you to the sQuidcard secure site or if you do not have access to the internet, via the School Finance Office.
Q/ How much money can be loaded onto my sQuidcard?
A/ The maximum balance for a sQuidcard is £100 but we recommend a limit of £20
Q/ How can I check my balance?
A/
You can check your sQuidcard account balance online, or by presenting your card at any of the school’s sQuid readers.
Q/ Can I get into debt with a sQuidcard?
A/ No - it is a prepaid payment system. You can only spend what you have loaded on to the card. You cannot get in to debt with a sQuidcard.
Q/ What happens when I leave the school, will I get a refund of any outstanding balance?
A/ Yes – if you have registered your sQuidcard, sQuid will make a refund directly to you at your home address by cheque.
Q/ How do I keep track of my payments?
A/ You can view your current balance and transactions online at any time. Just access the account via the school website and click the ‘Sign into my sQuid’ button. If you haven’t set up an account or registered a sQuid card, you will need to click on the ‘Register a sQuidcard’ button. You can also set up your account to ‘alert’ you when your balance drops to below a fixed amount, this will help you re-load your card in good time.
Q/ Will I earn interest on my sQuidcard balance?
A/ You will not earn any interest on any funds loaded on your sQuidcard account.
Q/ How do I update my personal details?
A/ You can update your details at any time. Sign in to your sQuidcard account and click on the ‘My details’ link on the left hand navigation once you have successfully logged on.
Q/ Will my sQuidcard expire?
A/ No - your card does not have an expiry date.
Q/ Why has my card suddenly stopped working?
A/ You may need to load some more cash onto your card or your card has been registered as lost or stolen. The Finance Office will be able to help you with any problems you may have with your card.
Q/ In what circumstances will you cancel my sQuidcard?
A/ We will cancel your sQuidcard – ‘hotlist’ - if we suspect fraud or misuse of the card, or if we have any other security or legal concerns. If we cancel your card then we will inform you as soon as possible. Any outstanding balance may be returned to you or transferred to a new card.
Q/ What should I do if I lose my card?
A/ If your card has been lost, please report the circumstances at Reception straightaway. A replacement card can be ordered but it will take about a week to arrive, and the cost will be charged to your card (currently £3). When the replacement card arrives the Finance Office will let you know that it is ready for collection. In the meantime, you will be able to obtain meal tickets from Reception on a daily basis.
sQuid security
Q/ Do I need a signature or Chip and PIN to authorise the payment
A/ No, a sQuidcard is a contact less, secure, smart card. It does not need a signature or Chip and PIN to authorise the payment.
Q Is my money safe?
A/ sQuidcard is safer than cash. If you lose a twenty pound note you are unlikely to see it again. If you lose your registered sQuidcard you can notify us and we will send you a replacement and transfer your balance to the new card.
Q/ How secure is this system?
A/ sQuidcard uses sophisticated fraud prevention and detection processes and conforms to the FSA Regulatory Requirements. Each card reader is protected by a unique security application module that creates a trusted transaction environment. Transactions from readers are encrypted and routed over public networks to the sQuid host environment in a highly secure manner.
Q/ How secure is my data and the sQuidcard site?
A/ All sQuid data and yours is hosted on a secure web hosting platform. All of the data we collect on behalf of you is bound by our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
