LionCash is the official campus debit card at Penn State University. It can be used for purchases on and around campus, including at dining halls, campus stores, vending machines, laundry facilities, and more. Sometimes students may find themselves in a situation where they have lost LionCash or need to get a refund. This article will provide tips and guidance on how to get your LionCash back in different scenarios.
Checking Your LionCash Balance
The first step is always to check your current LionCash balance. There are a few ways to do this:
– Log in to your LionCash account online. You can see your balance and full transaction history here.
– Check your balance at a LionCash kiosk around campus. These are located in dining halls, residence halls, and other campus buildings.
– Ask the cashier at any location that accepts LionCash. They can print you a receipt showing your current balance.
Knowing your LionCash balance and transaction history can help identify any errors or where your missing LionCash may have gone. If you lost physical LionCash (e.g. leftover funds on a gift card), checking when and where your last purchases were can provide clues.
Getting a Refund for Purchases
If you think LionCash was incorrectly charged for a dining hall meal, campus store purchase, printing, laundry, or other transaction, you can request a refund. Here’s the process:
– Contact the location where the charge occurred. For dining halls, stores, and other facilities, speak to the manager on duty. For things like printing and laundry charges, call the support number listed on the machine.
– Explain the situation calmly and provide any relevant details, like the amount/date of the transaction and why you believe it was incorrect. Having your LionCash receipt is helpful.
– The staff should be able to look up the transaction and verify if a refund is warranted. Refunds for valid issues are typically provided immediately.
– If the location cannot resolve the issue, you can escalate by contacting LionCash support or your campus meal plan/housing office for further assistance. Provide documentation if possible.
Getting refunds quickly is important as LionCash funds do not roll over semester to semester. Be proactive and flag any questionable charges right away.
Reporting Lost or Stolen LionCash
If your physical LionCash card has been lost or stolen, it is important to report it immediately to prevent unauthorized use of your account. Here is the process:
– Call the LionCash office at 1-800-377-8883 or visit in person at 101 HUB-Robeson Center. This will deactivate your current card and protect any funds.
– To get a new LionCash card issued, bring a valid photo ID to the LionCash office or campus ID office. The replacement fee is $20.
– If you have auto-increment setup on the account, you can re-enable it on the new card to automatically add more funds when the balance gets low.
– Monitor your LionCash account closely for any fraudulent charges and report them promptly. You may be able to get refunds, but the longer you wait the harder it becomes.
– If a lost card is later found, you can also turn it back in to the LionCash office to be shredded and deactivated.
Having LionCash stolen can be stressful, but reporting it quickly can help minimize losses. Always use common sense protecting your card and PIN code as you would any debit or credit card.
Getting Unused LionCash Refunded
Sometimes students end up with leftover LionCash at the end of a semester that goes unused. Fortunately, it is possible to get a refund under certain circumstances:
– At the end of spring semester, graduating seniors can request a refund of their LionCash balance by submitting a form to the LionCash office. Proof of graduation is required.
– Any unspent LionCash remaining from a gifted eGift card can be refunded to the original purchaser upon request, as long as the card is registered.
– LionCash from an expiring meal plan may be eligible for a refund within certain time limits. Check with your campus meal plan office for details.
– For all other LionCash balances, no refunds are allowed. Make sure to spend down your balance each semester.
Planning ahead is the best way to avoid leaving excess LionCash behind. But for graduates and gifted eCard balances, getting a refund is straightforward. Don’t leave money on the table unnecessarily.
Disputing Fraudulent LionCash Charges
If you notice unauthorized LionCash charges on your account, here are important steps to dispute them:
– Contact LionCash support immediately at 1-800-377-8883. Provide details on the fraudulent purchases, including vendor location, amount, and date.
– Flag the charges in your LionCash account online and document with screenshots if possible.
– File a report with your campus police department. Get a copy of the police report.
– LionCash will investigate the disputed transactions and may request a copy of the police report.
– If deemed fraudulent, LionCash will reverse the charges and refund the purchases. This process may take a few weeks.
– Monitor LionCash statements closely for future fraudulent activity. Consider changing your PIN for added security.
– If LionCash disputes are rejected, you can appeal by escalating to campus administration. Provide all documentation.
Disputed charges should be reported as soon as detected. The longer you wait, the lower the chance LionCash can recover the funds. Always keep LionCash account information secure.
Troubleshooting LionCash Reader Issues
LionCash readers can sometimes malfunction when trying to make purchases on campus. Here is how to troubleshoot some common LionCash reader issues:
– Try swiping your card slowly multiple times. Magnetic strips wear down over time, so a slow gentle swipe works better.
– Look for any obstructions or damage to the card reader. Liquid spills, tampering, or jammed card slots can interrupt function. Report any damage to staff.
– Make sure your chip-enabled LionCash card is properly inserted face up into the chip reader. Hold it in place until the transaction processes.
– On touchscreen readers, follow the prompts carefully and select the appropriate options. Don’t remove card until it authorizes.
– Check your card balance on a different reader. If your balance appears incorrect, your card may be corrupted. Get a replacement issued.
– For recurring reader issues, make note of the location and machine ID number. Report chronic problems to LionCash support for investigation.
With proper card handling and timely reporting of issues, most LionCash readers can be made to work. Don’t force anything – insert gently and swipe smoothly. Staff may offer workaround options if a reader is temporarily out of service.
Managing Auto-Increment LionCash
LionCash offers an auto-increment option that automatically adds funds from a linked payment source whenever your balance gets low. Here are some tips for managing it effectively:
– When setting up auto-increment, start conservatively with a higher minimum balance threshold ($50+) to avoid frequent small adds.
– Link auto-increment to a bank account rather than credit card to avoid card decline issues and transaction fees.
– Temporarily disable auto-increment before planned periods of inactivity (e.g. spring break) to avoid unnecessary adds.
– Review account regularly to ensure only appropriate increments are occurring. Watch for duplicate smaller adds.
– If disabling the feature, allow time for any pending increments to process before spending down the balance.
– Consider turning off auto-increment at least a few weeks before graduation to avoid getting extra funds.
– Never delete the linked payment source while auto-increment is still active or it can trigger problems.
With auto-increment on your LionCash account, it provides convenience without having to manually add funds each time. Just monitor it periodically and adjust settings as needed.
Avoiding LionCash Scams
Unfortunately, scams targeting students’ LionCash do sometimes occur. Here are tips to recognize and avoid potential LionCash scams:
– Be wary of any calls/emails claiming to be LionCash support needing account information or offering “access codes” to redeem. LionCash never contacts students this way.
– Ignore instructions to buy gift cards or provide gift card codes to “reload LionCash.” This is always a scam tactic.
– Avoid entering LionCash or bank details on any third party website other than the official lioncash.psu.edu site.
– Do not trust offers of jobs or prizes requiring an “advance fee” paid in LionCash. Real employers never ask for this.
– Carefully examine any LionCash readers before using, especially off-campus. Tampered devices could be skimmers stealing card data.
– Never share or sell your LionCash to someone else. This is against policy and any misuse of the funds would be your responsibility.
Protecting your LionCash is similar to guarding any other financial account. Use common sense, never provide sensitive information, and report any suspicious activity.
Making the Most of LionCash Discounts
One great perk of using LionCash is getting access to exclusive discounts and promos. Here are some ways to maximize LionCash savings:
– Check for weekly dining hall specials that give LionCash users extra value, like discounted combo meals or “LionCash Mondays.”
– Look for occasional discount offers sent via LionCash email or posted at campus dining spots granting free items with purchase.
– See if your campus recreation center, theaters, or other facilities offer LionCash members lower rates or bonuses at certain times.
– Buy discounted gift cards for popular off-campus spots using LionCash – you get a deal and convenience.
– Take advantage of LionCash refund days granting 10% back on purchases at the campus bookstore several times per year.
– Shop LionCash-exclusive student sales for computers, tablets, and other tech held on campus or online.
With LionCash, you aren’t just constrained to campus. Many local merchants also provide student discounts, so always ask!
Conclusion
LionCash provides Penn State students and staff with an easy and convenient way to make purchases around campus while avoiding having to carry cash. However, issues with LionCash balances do occasionally come up. By understanding the proper procedures for checking your balance, obtaining refunds, reporting lost cards, disputing fraudulent charges, and troubleshooting issues, you can get assistance resolving problems and ensuring you maximize the use of funds in your LionCash account. Taking advantage of LionCash discounts and auto-increment features also allows you to stretch your dollars further. With the helpful tips above, you can master LionCash management and unlock all the value your campus debit account has to offer.
