Special Challenges for First-Year-Students
BearBucks & DCB: The Differences & Features of Each
What is BearBucks?
Your BearBucks account is a prepaid debit card administered by the UCA OneCard Office. Though not required by UCA, it is very highly recommended because it is safe, convenient, and 100% free!
How is BearBucks different from DCB (Declining Cash Balance)?
BearBucks and DCB are separate accounts that a student will benefit from having and both use the same UCA ID card. BearBucks is generally used for off-campus purchases and for on-campus purchases at non-food service locations. BearBucks is also accepted at all on-campus food-service locations after a student’s DCB funds are exhausted. DCB is sold as part of a meal plan purchased for room and board, and therefore can be used only at campus food service locations and only reloaded through Aramark. Essentially, the BearBucks card is much more widely accepted and versatile.
The BearBucks card can be used all across campus, as well as off-campus with merchants in the Retail Alliance. Laser printing and copying in the library can be paid for only with BearBucks, as well as laser printing in the Burdick Business Administration building. BearBucks never expire and do not incur NSF fees. BearBucks are refundable, minus an administrative fee, if the student chooses to close the account, or leaves the university for any reason. The administration fee is taken from remaining funds, so it is therefore advisable to use all BearBucks before leaving campus. DCB cannot be refunded.
What is the BearBucks Retail Alliance?
Currently, the BearBucks card is accepted in the cafeteria, student center, UCA bookstore, library, residence hall vending machines, Burdick Business Administration, and at all UCA food service locations. We are enlarging this program with the assistance of local Conway merchants. This means that for all retail locations that enter into our retail alliance, students will then be able to use their BearBucks card there, exactly the same as on campus. As of now, the Pizza Hut on Salem Road in Conway is accepting the card. The Bear's Den on Dave Ward will also be accepting the BearBucks card. As new merchants are added to this program, students will be notified by email, so they can begin enjoying the ease and convenience of using BearBucks off-campus.
BearBucks Features
- 24 Hour support through website
- Can be used at library & BBA for laser printing/copying
- Can be used at Bookstore
- Can be used off-campus at Pizza Hut on Salem Road and The Bear’s Den on Dave Ward.
- Can be used at all food service locations on campus
- Is refundable (administration fee may apply)
- Does not incur Non-Sufficient Funds fees
- Can be refilled easily
- Can be used in residence hall vending machines
- Totally free
- Real-time transactions and records
Why is this better than a regular debit card?
There are several reasons the BearBucks card beats a regular debit card. First, it’s easier and more convenient. Since the ID card is also the debit card, students only need to carry the one card. Also, all BearBucks transactions are listed in a statement that can be viewed online daily or as often as students like, and which is updated in real-time. The account cannot go into the negative because if a student tries to use the card and funds are not available, the transaction will not process. Therefore, no NSF fees can be incurred. Debit accounts, however, may not show current pending transactions and therefore may allow the account to go into the negative and charge fees. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, there are many safety concerns with debit cards, “including more-frequent overdraft fees. "It's much easier to overdraw your [debit] account," he [Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director at U.S. PIRG, a consumer-advocacy group] says. "A debit card gives you a latte if you have no money. A latte costs $5, but the bank gets a $30 overdraft." (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118342179896655835.html?mod=most_viewed_pj24)
This will never happen with BearBucks because transactions simply cannot go through if the funds are not available! It is 100% safe.
BearBucks can be easily reloaded as well, by several methods. Just call the BearBucks office, go online, stop by one of electronic reloading kiosks, or mail a check. If parents have their student’s ID number, they can add funds at any time from anywhere! To reload, go to https://bearbucks.uca.edu/1card/.
What other benefits does this card provide?
Simplicity: If at any time, a parent or student has a question or concern about the card or a transaction, they can simply email us at bearbucks@uca.edu at any time or call 501.450.5818 from 8-4.30 daily for support. Parents also have the assurance that all merchants who accept the card have an agreement with UCA that they will not allow the BearBucks card to be used to purchase alcohol or tobacco products. Additionally, when many students leave college laden with credit card debt, this card can help prevent students from sinking into the same trouble. Since the card is pre-paid, students can only use money they have; there’s no way to accrue debt or fees. As more merchants across town accept the card, there will become very little need for your student to use a charge card for daily life.
For more information, see http://www.uca.edu/uca/bearbucks.php or email us at BearBucks@uca.edu.
|
