UChoose Gift Card – Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I use my Card?

You can use your Card at over 24 million retailers worldwide. Whether you are purchasing high street fashion, electrical products, garden products, dinners out, flowers, petrol (inside the service station), sports tickets, movie tickets, travel, furniture, jewellery, something for the kids or something special for yourself – you can see the options are endless – these cards definitely give you the freedom of choice!

Does my Card have an expiry date?

Yes. It will expire at the end of the month shown on the front of the Card. Once this date has been reached you will not be able to use the card and any remaining balance will be forfeited. You will not get any prior notification that your card is going to expire.

When do I start paying monthly maintenance fees?

The fee will be charged at the start of the fourth month from the issue of the Card and every month thereafter. (This applies only to Cards with an available balance.) The maintenance fees will automatically be deducted from your available balance until your available balance becomes zero or your card expires. Once your Card has no funds available, no more fees will be incurred. For example, if you have $1.20 on your card the first of the monthly fees will sweep your account and take this balance to zero and effectively close your account.

Who can use my Card?

You are responsible for all transactions on the Card. You should sign your Card immediately and treat the Card like cash. Anyone who may pick up the Card will be able to use the Card.

How can I check my Card balance and my transaction history?

You can check your online Card balance and transaction history anytime, free of charge simply by logging into your account and viewing all transactions made with your Card.

Alternatively you can call 1800 821 225 (call charges apply).

The merchant is unable to advise you on your available balance when you are purchasing goods. Please ensure you know your balance prior to using your card.

If I think the balance on my Card is incorrect what do I do?

If you think there is an issue with your Card balance after checking your transaction history, you may contact us online through the website. Or you can phone 24 hour customer support on 1800 821 225 (call charges apply).

Can you extend the expiry date of my Card?

No, we cannot extend the expiry date of your Card. Once the Card is expired any remaining funds are forfeited and the card cannot be accessed.

How do I cancel my Card once I have finished with it?

When you have finished with your Card you can cut it in half and discard it. You do not need to mail the fully spent Card back to us or advise us that you have done this. No additional fees will be charged to you. All fees only ever come off the balance on the card.

How secure is the Card?

Like all payment cards, your UChoose Card should be safeguarded, treated like cash. This card cannot be replaced if it is lost or stolen.

Why would my Card transactions get declined?

There are several possibilities:

• the amount of your purchase exceeds your available balance

• your Card has expired

• your Card has been suspended

• a previous voided or interrupted transaction may have been authorised, and the reserved funds have not yet been released – this can take up to 7 days

• the signature panel on the back of the Card has not been signed

• your signature on the purchase receipt does not match the signature on the back of the Card

Are there any transactions for which the Card cannot be used?

Your Card may be declined for Internet gambling transactions.
You cannot use your Card to pay for fuel ‘at the pump’ you will need to go inside and pay at the counter.

If a merchant asks me “Credit, Cheque or Savings?” how should I answer?

You will always select Credit.

What if the value of the purchase I want to make is greater than the value / balance on my Card?

If you attempt to pay for a purchase that is greater than your available balance, the transaction will be declined.

Please ensure you check your available balance prior to making purchases, the merchant will not be able to advise you of your available balance.

If your purchase is greater than the amount available on your Card, you can pay the difference to the full amount by using any other type of legal tender accepted by the merchant.

What if the value of the purchase I want to make is less than the value / balance on my Card?

Only the exact value of your purchase will be deducted from the balance on the Card, so you can use the Card for more purchases later. No change will be given.

How do I use my Card at hotels, restaurants or other such merchants?

In service oriented merchants like restaurants and hotels where it is customary to give a tip for excellent service, the merchant factors in up to 20% when seeking authorization. This ensures that if you leave a tip that the transaction amount will be able to cover the purchase and the tip. This is called a tolerance.

For example, if the cost of your meal adds up to $100, the merchant will seek authorisation for up to $120, which means that if the balance on your Card were say $110, it would be declined.

You should ensure that your Card has a balance which covers that 20% buffer when you are transacting with these sorts of merchants, even if you plan to give a smaller tip. The merchant is not able to process the exact amount of the transaction if you leave a cash tip so please factor in the additional 20%.

When staying at a hotel, hiring a rental car or going on a cruise, we recommend using the Card to pay at the checkout, not when making the reservation or checking in. Why? Because a provision for tips or incidentals of up to 20% is added and reserved in advance for these types of merchants.

What happens if I need to return an item to the merchant?

Each merchant has its own policy about accepting returned items. If a merchant does accept the return of goods purchased with a Visa Prepaid Card, then the merchant may provide a cash refund, issue a store credit or process a negative transaction so the spending power of the Card is restored. However such credits are not immediate - please check your transaction history if you are waiting on a Credit to your account.

Can additional funds Be added to my Card?

UChoose Cards cannot be re-loaded once the available balance has been used.

Do I still pay a monthly service fee if my account balance is $0?

No, you will only pay the monthly maintenance fee when your Card has a positive balance.
All fees will be deducted from your available balance on your Card, you will not be asked to pay for any fees other than from the available balance on your card.
For example – if you have a balance of $1.20 on your card the first monthly maintenance fee will bring your balance to zero and no further fees will be incurred.