Credit Cards

What is the best way to make purchases on campus?

The best way to make purchases on campus is using your UB Card accounts. You can fund these accounts using a charge to your University account (rules apply) or a credit card online at http://myaccount.myubcard.com. Using these accounts Campus Dining & Shops has the ability to check your account and assist you if there is a problem. Using your GET apps you can easily fund the account on your mobile device if you run low on funds. There is also a greater degree of account tracking through the app. There are additional tax savings available for food purchases for students. Faculty and Staff receive discounts equal to these tax savings as well. In addition there are bonus days and deals throughout the year. Go to myubcard.com for more information.

Do the credit card terminals change the way my UB Card accounts work?

No. These terminals are only for credit and debit bank cards. You will still hand your UB Card to the cashier for processing. You may also use your GET app on your smartphone.

Can I manually enter my credit card number?

No. For security reasons our terminals do not allow the manual entry of any card number. Our cashiers are locked out of the register from the time the credit card terminal is activated until it is completed and cannot assist with a bank card that does not read properly. If your card is damaged please contact your bank for a replacement. You will need to use an alternate form of payment for the purchase if your card is damaged.

Can I use my Debit card?

Yes, if your debit card has a Visa or MasterCard logo on it. Currently the terminals will accept a debit card as “credit” according to your banks policy. During the Phase one deployment, the terminals will be updated and you will be prompted to select debit or credit. If you select debit you will be prompted to enter your pin.

Can I use Google Wallet or Apple Pay?

No, however Google Wallet and Apple Pay will be available in the near future.

What is a "chip" card?

Over the past year, credit card companies have started issuing credit and debit cards with a small, gold colored chip visible on the face of the card. This only applies to credit and debit cards, not University ID cards or proprietary gift cards. When inserted into a chip enabled reader, the card generates and sends a unique transaction ID code to the processor. This code makes it virtually impossible to create a fraudulent transaction.

How does this work at UB?
Phase one beginning on July 13th, 2015 has the new terminals in place at all Campus Dining & Shops locations. These terminals are customer facing and will read the magnetic stripe on your existing credit cards. The chip slot is not yet active.

To make a credit or debit card transaction -
The cashier will total your order.
If you are paying by credit or debit card the cashier will activate the FreedomPay terminal.
You will complete the payment following the prompts on the terminal. The cashier cannot take your card.
You will only need to sign for transactions of $25 or more.
(At the Tiffin Room, the server will be able to take your card to the terminal for you until later in the year.)

At a point before the end of October the terminals will be updated to read the chip on your credit card. New instructions will be available at that time.

Why are there new credit card terminals at the dining locations?

The United States is in the process of adopting EMV credit/debit card security standards also known as “Chip and Pin.” This is the standard in Europe and most of the world. There is a requirement to be compliant with EMV by October 2015. Campus Dining & Shops is committed to providing the safest financial environment for the University community.