UNISON Prepaid Plus MasterCard® Card Terms and Conditions
These terms and conditions apply to your Prepaid Card. You must read them carefully. In these terms and conditions "you" means the named UNISON Prepaid Plus Cardholder being the authorised user of the Prepaid Card. "We", "us" or "our" means Newcastle Building Society, UNISON and Union Income Limited or Altair Technologies Ltd. “Website” means our website at www.unisonprepaid.com.
1. Your Prepaid MasterCard ® Card(s)
The Prepaid Card will operate either as a stand alone single card (“Primary Card”) or in conjunction with an additional secondary card (“Secondary Card”). You, as the Primary cardholder, are responsible for all use on both the Primary Card and any Secondary Card you may apply for. When we refer simply to "Prepaid Card" this means either the Primary Card on its own, or, where applicable, both the Primary Card and the Secondary Card as a pair of linked Prepaid Cards.
Subject to the restrictions set out below, you can use the Prepaid Card at most locations that display the MasterCard® acceptance mark, including shops, restaurants, online, or on the telephone. Before using the Prepaid Card you need to make sure there are enough funds loaded on it. You will not be able to use your Prepaid Card after its expiry date. Please note your Prepaid Card cannot be used at any merchant where authorisation for the transaction is not requested electronically.
Your Prepaid Card is not a credit card and is not linked to your bank account. Your Prepaid Card is an electronic money device. Funds loaded onto your card will be held as electronic money, not a deposit. You will not earn any interest on any funds loaded on your Prepaid Card. You are not entitled to any statutory protections that may apply to credit cards.
2. Activating and using your Prepaid Card
To apply for your Prepaid Card you must be at least 18 years old and a UK resident. We will require evidence of who you are and your residential address. We may ask you to provide some documentary evidence to prove this and we may carry out checks on you electronically.
You will receive your card within 14 days of applying for the card, if identity verification checks are satisfied. You must sign the signature strip on the back of the Prepaid Card as soon as it is received. If you received a Prepaid Card without applying, as part of your union membership benefits, you must sign the signature strip on the back as soon as you receive it.
Please refer to the Website for all card loading options or refer to the “Loading your Prepaid Card” section below. You must activate your card as soon as you have received your PIN, following the instructions provided on the letter and information leaflet that accompanied the card, or on the Website.
You may apply for a Secondary Card using the website and you may give the Secondary Card to a relative, friend or person of your choosing. You should ask that person to sign the Secondary Card on receipt and you should then activate the Secondary Card as instructed. The Secondary Card cardholder must be at least 13 years old, and you must produce evidence to support this if required. Failure to produce such evidence may result in refusal to issue a Secondary Card.
By activating your UNISON Prepaid Plus Card you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.
3. Loading your Prepaid Card
Funds can be loaded to your Primary Card in a number of ways: Internet top up and phone top up via SMS using your debit card, cash loads at Payzone locations, or via direct debit. Debit Card and Payzone loads will be available on your Primary Card within minutes of being approved by your debit card issuer. Direct debit will be available within 4 business days or less. A Load Fee may be applied for each load that you make, please refer to The Fees section.
Funds may also be loaded to your card in the form of salary payments via your employer, and/or welfare payments via your Union. Once funds are received by us they will be loaded and made available as soon as practicable, which generally means being credited to your Primary Card by the next banking day. Funds can be loaded on to the Secondary Card only from the Primary Card and will be available within a few minutes.
Other loading options may be added in the future; we will contact you if and when a loading option is added. If the balance on your Primary Card during funds transfer exceeds the maximum balance permitted under the scheme (please see the Fees Section 23 for details), the transfer will be rejected. Once funds are received by us they will be loaded and made available as soon as practicable, which generally means being credited to your Primary Card by the next banking day.
4. Using your Prepaid Card
Detailed instructions on how to use your Prepaid Card are found on the Website. You will need to follow these instructions when using your Prepaid Card.
We will deduct the value of your transactions from the balance on your Prepaid Card as soon as they are made. We will also deduct any applicable fees as soon as they become payable by you, see the Fees section for details of our fees. If sufficient funds are not loaded on your Prepaid Card at the time of a transaction to cover the amount of the transaction and the Fees, the transaction will be declined.
Your Prepaid Card can only be used where the merchant requests authorisation electronically. Where authorisation is not sought, the transaction will be declined.
5. Cancellation and expiry of your Prepaid Card
You have a legal right to cancel your Prepaid Card up to 14 days after you have received your Prepaid Card without being charged a refund fee – this 14 day period is known as the “Cooling-Off Period”. Under these terms and conditions, you also have the right to cancel your Prepaid Card at any time after the Cooling-Off Period. If your Prepaid Card is cancelled, we will immediately block your Prepaid Card so it cannot be used.
You will not be entitled to a refund of money you have already spent on transactions authorised or pending, or any fees for use of the Prepaid Card before the Prepaid Card is cancelled or expires. You can cancel your Prepaid Card by sending an email to us using the ‘Contact Us’ function on the Website. Then cut your Prepaid Card in half through the signature box and magnetic strip, ensuring the Chip is cut in half, and send to Client Services Department, Altair Technologies Ltd, 3rd Floor, 37 Maddox Street, London, W1S 2PP with a print-out of your email requesting the cancellation. Alternatively you can cancel your Prepaid Card by writing to us at Client Services Department, Altair Technologies Ltd, 3rd Floor, Maddox Street, London, W1S 2PP, enclosing your Prepaid Card cut in half through the signature box and magnetic strip. Once we have received this, the refund of the funds remaining on your card will be processed.
If you cancel your Prepaid Card, once all transactions and fees have been deducted, we will arrange for any unused funds to be refunded to you, see "Your Right to a Refund" section below for further information. A Cancellation Fee may be charged (see the Fees section) unless you have arranged to transfer any unused funds to another Prepaid Card managed by us or you cancel your Prepaid Card within the Cooling-Off Period.
We may also cancel your Prepaid Card immediately if we suspect fraud or misuse of your Prepaid Card, if we have any other security concerns or we need to do so to comply with the law. If we do this, we will tell you as soon as we can or are permitted to do so after we have taken these steps. In these circumstances, you must tell us what you want us to do with any unused funds within 3 months of the date we tell you your Prepaid Card is cancelled.
Your Prepaid Card will be valid for 24 months. When it expires, we may automatically send you a replacement card if you have used your card within the last 3 months before the date of expiry or have a positive balance on the card on the expiry date. Any funds on your Prepaid Card will automatically be transferred to your new card. If your Prepaid Card has expired and you have not received your new card please contact us.
6. Keeping your Prepaid Card secure
You should treat your Prepaid Card like cash. If it is lost or stolen, you may lose some or all of your money on your Prepaid Card, in the same way as if you lost cash in your wallet or purse. Therefore, you must keep your Prepaid Card safe and not let anyone else use it. If you are issued with a PIN, you must immediately memorise it and destroy the notification. You must keep your PIN secret at all times. Do not write it down or reveal it to anyone. In no circumstances will we or should you reveal your PIN to a third party.
We recommend that you check the balance on your Prepaid Card regularly online at the Website. You can see your Prepaid Card balance and recent transactions online at any time.
If you lose your Prepaid Card or it is stolen, or you suspect that your Prepaid Card has been used by someone other than you, you must tell us immediately by calling us on our 24-hour lost and stolen card helpline +44 (0) 203 227 4849 so we can cancel your Prepaid Card. In the event that your Prepaid Card is lost, stolen or misused by someone without your permission, you may have to pay part of the loss up to a reasonable sum of any loss incurred. If your Prepaid Card is misused with your permission you will probably be liable for ALL losses. You will not be liable for losses which take place after you told us about the loss or theft of your Prepaid Card, as long as you confirm this in writing within 7 days. Please note, we cannot accept instruction from the holder of the Secondary Card, therefore if the Secondary Card is lost or stolen, it will be your responsibility to advise us accordingly.
If, after reporting a lost Prepaid Card, you subsequently find the card you must not use it. Cut the Prepaid Card in half through the signature box and magnetic strip, and ensure the Chip is cut in half.
If you ask us to do so, we will investigate any disputed transaction or misuse of your Prepaid Card and we may need more information and assistance from you. If this assistance or information is not provided then you may not be entitled to a refund.
We may refund the amount of any transactions which the investigations show are not authorised by you, provided you have kept your Prepaid Card and PIN secure, you have not acted fraudulently, or acted without reasonable care. However, if the investigations show that any disputed transaction was authorised by you, or you have not kept your Prepaid Card or PIN secure, we will not refund the transaction amount and will reserve the right to charge you an Administration Fee.
7. Your liability
In the event that you do not use your Prepaid Card in accordance with these terms and conditions or we find that you are using the Prepaid Card fraudulently, we reserve the right to charge you for any reasonable costs that we incur in taking action to stop you using this Prepaid Card and to recover any monies owed as a result of your activities.
8. Our liability
Like other payment cards, we cannot guarantee a retailer will accept your Prepaid Card, or that we will necessarily authorise any particular transaction. This may be because of a systems problem, something outside our reasonable control, or because we are concerned that your Prepaid Card is being misused. Accordingly, we shall not be liable in the event that a retailer refuses to accept your Prepaid Card, or if we do not authorise a transaction, or if we cancel or suspend use of your Prepaid Card. Unless otherwise required by law, we shall not be liable for any direct or indirect loss or damage you may suffer as a result of your total or partial use or inability to use your Prepaid Card, or the use of your Prepaid Card by any third party.
9. Your right to a refund
You may request a refund of the funds on your Prepaid Card provided you have more than £10.00 loaded on your Prepaid Card. To do so, send us an e-mail using the ‘Contact Us’ facility on the Website or write to us at Client Services Department, Altair Technologies Ltd, 3rd Floor, 37 Maddox Street, London, W1S 2PP, requesting a refund and confirming that you have destroyed your Prepaid Card by cutting it up. When we process your refund, we will charge a Refund Fee (see The Fees section).
We will send a cheque to your last notified address or arrange an electronic transfer to a bank account nominated by you. However, to enable us to comply with our legal obligations, we may ask you to provide us with certain information before we can process your refund request.
10. Changes to these Terms and Conditions
We may change these terms and conditions at any time. The up-to-date version of the Prepaid Card terms and conditions will always be available on the Website. If we think that a change is material we will send you an e-mail and/or SMS text message and/or letter at least 30 days before making the change, unless a more immediate change is required by law or other valid reason.
If you are significantly disadvantaged by any such change that we make, you may cancel your Prepaid Card in accordance with our refund policy (see section 9 above). In such circumstances you will not be charged a Refund Fee (see The Fees section).
11. The Fees
Please see fees in Section 23: Summary Box
When you use your Prepaid Card at a cash machine, you may also be subject to applicable fees, surcharge rules and regulations of the relevant cash machine, or other financial institution or association.
If we decide to increase or impose any new fees, we will tell you by e-mail, SMS text message, or post, at least 30 days before any changes take effect. Authorisation will be requested for all transactions at the time of each transaction. In the unlikely event, for any reason whatsoever, that a transaction is completed when there are insufficient funds on the Prepaid Card for that transaction (a "Shortfall"), the Shortfall shall be reimbursed by you unless it is due to an error on the part of the retailer where the Prepaid Card was presented, in this circumstance we may seek the Shortfall from the retailer.
You agree that once we make this Shortfall known to you, we may charge you for the Shortfall amount. We may charge the amount of the Shortfall from any other Prepaid Cards that you hold with us, to any other payment method which you may designate at that time, or against any funds which you may subsequently load onto your Prepaid Card or on any additional Prepaid Card ordered by you. Until we are reimbursed the Shortfall amount, we may suspend your Prepaid Card and any additional Prepaid Cards connected to you. In addition, we reserve the right to charge you an Administration Fee for each transaction that you make using your Prepaid Card that results in a Shortfall or increases the Shortfall amount on your Prepaid Card.
12. Your details
You must let us know as soon as possible if you change name, address, telephone number, mobile number or e-mail address. If we contact you in relation to your Prepaid Card, for example, to notify you that we have cancelled your Prepaid Card or to send you a refund by cheque, we will use the most recent contact details you have provided to us. Any e-mail or SMS text message sent to you will be treated as being received as soon as it is sent by us. We will not be liable to you if your contact details have changed and you have not told us.
13. Data protection
In activating the Prepaid card and using it, you agree that we can use your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. You can tell us if you don't want to receive any marketing materials from us. You have the right to inspect personal data we hold about you. To inspect any of your personal data held by us you will have to pay us an Administration Fee. If you wish to inspect your personal data you can contact us in any of the ways set out in the Communication section below.
14. Privacy Policy
The personal information that is collected when you apply for a Prepaid Card will be used by us, our Prepaid Card issuer and third parties (on its behalf) to run your Prepaid Card, process your fund transfers or transactions. We or third parties may also contact you to let you know about services that we believe may be of interest to you, unless you have informed us that you do not want to receive this information. We shall ensure that the appropriate technical and operational security measures are in place to keep the personal data transferred confidential and secure. You may raise queries as to the personal information held by us about you, let us know about changes to your personal information or contact us if you no longer wish us to use your personal information, at any time using the ‘Contact Us’ facility on the Website.
15. Disputes with retailers
If you have any disputes about purchases made using your Prepaid Card, you should settle these with the person you bought the goods or services from. We are not responsible for the quality, safety, legality or any other aspect of any goods or services purchased with your Prepaid Card. Remember that once you have used your Prepaid Card to make a purchase we cannot stop that transaction.
16. Communication
If you have an enquiry relating to your Prepaid Card, you can use the ‘Contact Us’ facility on the Website. We will deal with your enquiry promptly. If you do not wish to enquire in this way you can alternatively call our customer service telephone line on +44 (0) 845 026 1105. Call costs from mobile networks or outside the UK may vary. Services requested from the IVR (Interactive Voice Response system) at the call centre will cost 25p per transaction in addition to the cost of the call charged by your service provider.
17. Complaints
The Prepaid Card programme is managed by UNISON and Union Income Limited (UIB) in conjunction with Altair Technologies Ltd. If you are unhappy in any way with your Prepaid Card or the way it is managed, tell us by using the ‘Contact Us’ facility on the Website so we can investigate the circumstances for you. Any complaints you have will be dealt with quickly and fairly. You may be able to take unresolved complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service at South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR. Telephone: 0845 080 1800 or +44 (0)20 7964 1000 (for calls from outside the UK) and e-mail: enquiries@financial-ombudsman.org.uk
18a. Compensation
Although the product is regulated by the Financial Services Authority, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) does not apply to your prepaid card or the value loaded onto it as e-money. No other compensation scheme exists to cover losses associated with this product. This means that in the unlikely event that Newcastle Building Society becomes insolvent your card may become valueless and unusable, and you may lose your money.
18b. Fund protection
As a responsible e-money issuer, Newcastle Building Society ensures that once it has received your funds they are deposited in a secure account, specifically for the purpose of redeeming transactions made by your Prepaid Card. In the unlikely event that Newcastle Building Society becomes insolvent funds that you have loaded which have arrived with and been deposited by Newcastle Building Society are protected against the claims made by creditors.
19. Assignment
We may assign the benefit and burden of these terms and conditions to another company at any time, on giving you at least 30 days prior notice of this. If we do this, your rights will not be affected. You may not assign your rights.
20. Transfer to a new Prepaid Card issued by a different bank
We may transfer your unused balance to a new prepaid card provided by a prepaid card issuer other than Newcastle Building Society at any time. Before we do this, we will send you an e-mail and/or SMS text message and/or letter with at least 30 days notice of the new Prepaid Card arrangements and the new Prepaid Card terms and conditions. Unless you advise us within the 30 day period that you do not want a new Prepaid Card from the new Prepaid Card issuer, you agree that we can automatically transfer the unused balance on your Prepaid Card to a new Prepaid Card provided by the new Prepaid Card issuer.
21. Governing law
All communications with you will be in English. These terms and conditions will be construed in accordance with English law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
22. Prepaid Card issuer
Your Prepaid Card is issued by Newcastle Building Society, Portland House, New Bridge Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 8AL, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (registered number 156058) as a building society and an issuer of electronic e-money. Your Prepaid Card is the property of Newcastle Building Society and is not transferable to anyone else.
23. Summary Box
Card application fee
Top-up by debit card
|
FREE
FREE
|
The information contained in this table summarises key product features and is not intended to replace any terms and conditions |
| |
Description
|
On Application |
Primary Card |
Secondary Card |
Card Activation Fee |
Free |
£10.00 |
Initial Limits |
Minimum amount of initial load £10.00
Maximum amount of initial load £1,250.00
|
N/A |
Usage Restrictions |
[Specific requirements apply where this card is used. For full details please refer to section 1 of the Terms and Conditions]
|
On-going Features
|
Retail Purchase Fees |
Retail purchase transaction – UK |
Free |
Free |
Retail purchase transaction – Outside UK |
Free |
Free |
Retail purchase transaction refund |
Free |
Free |
Declined transaction fee |
Free |
Free |
Cash Machine Fees |
Cash machine withdrawal – UK
|
£0.95 |
£0.95 |
Cash machine withdrawal – outside UK
|
£2.00 |
£2.00 |
Over-the-counter cash advance – UK |
£5.00 |
N/A |
Over-the-counter cash advance – outside UK |
£5.00 |
N/A |
Load Fees & Limits |
Card load by direct debit |
Free |
N/A |
SMS/Internet debit card load |
£1.00 |
N/A |
Card load by transfer from one UNISON Prepaid Plus Card to another (of transferred amount) |
3% |
N/A |
Card load using Alphyra Payzone (of loaded amount) |
3% |
N/A |
Minimum top-up |
£10.00 |
N/A |
Maximum top-up |
£1,250.00 |
N/A |
Maximum top-up amount per day |
£2,500.00 |
N/A |
Maximum card balance |
£3,000.00 |
£3,000.00 |
Maximum daily spend/refund |
£3,000.00 |
£3,000.00 |
Maximum daily cash machine withdrawal (included as part of Maximum daily spend) |
£250.00 |
£250.00 |
Maximum number of top-ups per day (up to a combined total of £2,500.00) |
2 |
N/A |
SMS Fees* |
SMS balance enquiry check |
£0.25 |
£0.25 |
SMS card block/unblock |
Free |
Free |
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Fees** |
IVR balance enquiry check |
£0.25 |
£0.25 |
IVR transaction history check |
£0.25 |
£0.25 |
IVR transfer to customer services agent (per call) |
Free |
Free |
Card Purchase and Administration Fees |
Monthly service charge |
£0.95 |
Free |
Foreign exchange mark-up of transactions in currency other your card currency |
3% |
3% |
Closure |
Replacement card (lost or stolen) |
£5.00 |
£5.00 |
Cancellation fee |
Free |
Free |
Refund fee |
Free |
Free |
* Note that by texting our SMS line on +44 (0) 7797805337 you will be charged at the UK rate. Texts from outside the UK will vary.
**Note that by calling our telephone line on +44 (0) 845 026 1105 you will be charged at the UK National rate. Calls from outside the UK will vary.
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