Cumbria Card

What is my Cumbria Card?

All students will be issued with a Cumbria Card. It is a multi-functional card which uses smart card technology to access students' accounts.

It is your ID card, Library card, photocopier card and on some university campuses it can be used for cashless purchasing in the catering outlets. These are Fusehill St in Carlisle, Penrith and Lancaster campuses. It can also gain you VAT free purchases in catering outlets if you register your card as described below.

How do I get my Cumbria Card?
 
Most students will be issued with a card when they register with the university on Registration Sunday. If you register at a different time, a card can be produced in the library when you hand over proof of registration.
 
How do I activate my card?
 
On Registration Sunday the cards of all students taking a pre-paid catering plan who have submitted their pre-payment in advance will be activated as the next stage in the registration process after your card has been produced. Cards issued at other times will need to be activated at the Catering administration office or the i zone on your campus.
 
How do I use my card for cashless purchasing?
 
If you are on the Pre Paid Catering Plan of £1350, £1000, or £500 the money will be credited to your Cumbria Card account electronically at the rate of 40%, 40% and 20% for the Autumn, Spring and Summer terms respectively.your card is the key which allows you to spend this money.
 
Using the card at a till in any outlet on the Lancaster, Penrith or Fusehill Street campus automatically identifies you as a resident student on a pre-paid catering plan this will remove the VAT from your purchase as well as give an additional 2.5% discount off home made goods. The card cannot be used to purchase alcohol.
Due to the discounts applied and the links to the accommodation contract, the initial catering purse placed on the card in this way must be spent between September and July 31st.
 
If you are not a resident student you can use your card to identify yourself as a student to receive VAT free purchases in the catering outlets or for cashless purchasing. To activate your card for either simply go to the catering admin office on your campus or the i zone at Lancaster and they will activate your card. In order to put funds into your account you can either register online at www.upay.co.uk (there is a an annual fee of £1.75) and add money via a card or go to a till where you can add any amount of money to your account from £10 upwards. This money will remain in your account for the life of your card or returned to you should any be unspent by the time you leave university.
 
How do I check my balance?
 
You will be able to check your balance for the catering purse online at any time or at a till whenever you use your card.
 
What happens if I lose my card?
 
You must report the loss to the catering admin office who will place a block on your account to prevent unauthorised usage (see also next bullet below). You must then go to the library where your card was issued for a replacement.
 
How secure is the card?
 
Your Cumbria Card is your ID card while you are at university. It has your photograph on it and your unique student number, this will be checked at the till during each use. You must produce your ID card if requested to do so by a member of university staff.
 
Do I have to pay for my Cumbria Card?
 
No, your card is free when first issued to you. There is a fee of £5 to replace a lost, stolen or damaged card, payable to the library when your card is re-issued, plus £5 payable to the catering admin office to have your card re-associated with your account. If your card has been stolen and you are able to produce a crime number then there will not be a charge for a replacement.
 
What happens if I run out of money?
 
You or a family member will be able to top up your account at any time via an online account. If you wish to set up an online account, please go to the catering administration office. Any additional credits, unspent, above the contracted pre-paid credit will remain on the card for as long as you are a student at the university.
 
Is there a minimum/ maximum credit I can add to my account?
 
Yes, the minimum credit is £10 and the maximum credit is £500.
 
How do I activate my Cumbria Card for PrintCopy?
 
For the first time only - you will need to ‘associate’ your card with your computer account details. At your nearest autoloader machine, place your card in front the card reader.
  • Press Y when asked if you wish to verify login
  • Enter your username and press enter
  • Enter your password and press enter
  • The lights on the machine should change from red to green and your current balance should be displayed.
The next time you use an autoloader or photocopier, your details will be displayed once you have placed your card in front of the card reader.
 
How can I top up my PrintCopy purse with extra money?
 
Money can be deposited in the autoloaders situated in or near each library.
 
The autoloaders will accept 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2 coins and notes. Any money deposited in the autoloaders will be deposited on your PrintCopy purse only.
 
The PrintCopy balance can not currently be credited via the internet.
 
Refunding PrintCopy Balance on the Cumbria Card
 
No money from your PrintCopy purse can be refunded.
 
Transferring balances between Purses on the Cumbria Card
 
Money cannot be transferred between your PrintCopy purse and the Catering purse.
 
How do I check my PrintCopy balance on the Cumbria Card?
 
When you show your Cumbria card to any Autoloader or photocopier card reader you current balance will display. You can also ask at the Help Desk.
 
Is there a minimum credit I can add too my PrintCopy purse?
 
Yes, the minimum credit is 5p.
 
Which photocopiers can I use with my Cumbria Card?
 
You can use any student photocopier with a Cumbria Card.