Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A guide for Parents/Guardians and pupils to using the sQuid
cashless catering system at Banbury School.
About sQuid
What is sQuid?
sQuid is an online payments system used to load money onto your child’s cashless catering account. sQuid is a smart way for you to top-up your cashless catering purse online, so that they can then pay for their lunch or a snack from the school canteen. Their cashless catering purse can be topped-up by bank transfer or by credit or debit card.
My personal sQuid account
I don’t have access to the internet, can I still use sQuid?
Yes, you can load your account by sending money with your child to the Finance Office at school, where the credit will be added to the account.
I don’t have a bank account, can I still use sQuid?
Yes, you can add credit to your account by bringing cash to the Finance Office where the money will be loaded onto your account.
What if you are entitled to Free School Meals?
The account 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. The account will look the same for all students, so students who have Free School Meals (FSM) will remain anonymous. You can still add funds to your account in the usual way. This additional amount will remain on the account until it is spent.
Using sQuid
I have received my sQuid registration number – how do I activate it?
You just need to register your account by clicking here.
Is there a daily spend limit?
Yes, Parents can set a daily spend limit by contacting Banbury school and requesting a limit. We have asked parents and found that £4 seems to be a desired maximum spend.
How does my new account work?
Instead of paying with cash, tap your finger against the reader to pay for your transaction. You should check the balance on the screen is correct before doing this. Your sQuid account will be debited straight away and details of the transaction will be displayed on your online statement.
How long does it take to make a payment using sQuid in the cafeteria?
A transaction takes less than three seconds.
I have just loaded money onto my account using a credit/debit card. How long does it take before I can use it?
After you load the account online, you will immediately see the uploaded value shown as 'to collect'. This balance is available at the canteen within an hour and is transferred onto the account by placing your finger on the reader.
I topped-up my account online using the bank transfer system. The money took 4 days, to reach the account. Is this right?
Yes. A bank transfer takes 4 days to reach your account. By contacting your bank you are able to set up a regular payment using this method.
What if I forget to top-up my account?
There is an overdraft facility built into the system. A pupil will be able to make one purchase without sufficient funds. This amount will be deducted when the account is topped-up again.
My sQuid account
What if I have more than one child in the school?
You will need to create separate accounts for each child with their individual sQuid registration number registered to each one. We suggest you make the sQuid account ‘Username’ child specific.
All other security information, i.e., passwords and security questions/answers can be the same for each.
How do I load money onto my sQuid?
You can top-up your sQuid account online by logging into your account, setting up a standing order or via the school Finance Office.
How do I set up a standing order?
To set up a standing order please contact us and we will send you the necessary details.
How much money can be loaded onto my sQuid?
The maximum balance for an account is £100 but we recommend a limit of £20.
How can I check my balance?
You can check your sQuid account balance online, or by placing your finger on any of the schools readers.
I wanted to top-up my child’s account with £10.50 so that they could purchase a school meal everyday. I tried to do this online but I could only top-up in multiples of £10. I cannot afford to do this. What can I do?
Online top-ups must be made in multiples of £10, but you may top-up using smaller or larger amounts in Finance if you wish.
What happens when I leave the school, will I get a refund of any outstanding balance?
Yes – if you have registered, sQuid will make a full refund of any balance over £5. The refund will be sent by cheque to your home address. sQuid reserve the right to charge a small fee for refunds.
How do I keep track of my payments?
You can view your current balance and any transactions online at any time. You will need to register in order to do this.
How do I update my personal details?
You can update your details at any time. Sign into your sQuid account and click on the ‘My Details’ link.
I have managed to lock myself out of my sQuid account because I entered the wrong username/password. How do I unlock my account?
The account will unlock itself over night. If you try again the next day, using the correct username and password you will be able to access your account.
Will my account expire?
No – your account does not have an expiry date.
How secure is this system?
sQuid uses sophisticated fraud prevention and detection processes and conforms to the FSA Regulatory Requirements. Each 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.
How secure is my data and the sQuid site?
All sQuid data and yours is hosted on a secure web hosting platform. All of the data we collect on your behalf is bound by our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
Your question not answered here?
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