– Your questions answered (Updated August 2010)
Many thanks for your questions about the scheme to date. If you have further questions click on the Contact Us link on the website, complete the information requested and submit. Why BSmart?
For a quick and easy guide as to why you should BSmart and how to get your BSmart card if you haven't got one, click here to download a copy of the BFit! BInTheKnow! BGreat! .... BSmart leaflet.
Can I use the money on my BSmart card at shops, cafes and other places where sQuid is accepted?
Your BSmart card has three sQuid e-money purses, the BSmart (positive activities) purse, a sQuid open purse and a GMPTE (Transit) purse. For all purses you will have to top up your card online through your personal account at www.squidcard.com.
1. BSmart (positive activities)purse: You can only spend money loaded on this purse at registered activity providers. See listing below.
2. sQuid Purse: You can spend money loaded on this purse at sQuid registered merchants ( including shops and café’s) in and around Bolton. At a number of outlets you can also top up your card with cash. Check on the sQuid website at www.squidcard.com for details of locations.
3. GMPTE (Transit) purse: Load money onto the GMPTE purse to pay for travel on Arriva buses. Check the Arriva page on the sQuid website at www.squidcard.com/arrivabuses. to find out more. NB: You will need to allow around 24 hours between loading your card and the money showing on the reader on the bus.
Where can I use my BSmart card to pay for activities?
BSmart cards are accepted at registered activity providers. These currently (at 1st August 2010) include Bolton Arena; Bolton Excel; Bolton YMCA; Central, Farnworth, Horwich and Westhoughton Libraries; Crafty by Nature; Farnworth Leisure Centre, Hab Fab Crafts, Harper Green, Hayward, Horwich, Kearsley, Ladybridge, Leverhulme Park and Little Lever Leisure Centres , The Phoenix, Net@Steps, Sharples Smithills ,Turton, Westhoughton and Withins Leisure Centres and Sweetens Book Shop.
For full details of activities at these venues contact them direct - for contact details either check out the Where to BSmart pages on the website or go to www.squidcard.com/BSmart
I went to an activity provider and there was no balance showing on my BSmart card?
Once you have got your card you need to do two things before using it at an activity provider, merchant or on the bus.
- Firstly you need to register your card with sQuid by going online at www.squidcard.com/BSmart, clicking on the link to Register a sQuidcard and completing the form. Please note you will have to have a valid email address to register. To complete the registration, you will then be asked to confirm your card details, ie; the 16 digit number on the front of the card and the 3 digit security number on the back of the card.
- Secondly to load money onto the card you will need to log into your account where you will see details of all three purses. Follow the onscreen instructions to load monies as you choose to each purse. Once the payment has been accepted you will see will see monies loaded onto a purse / purses showing as balance pending. This balance will then be added to your card the next time you make a transaction, check your balance against a sQuid reader at a registered provider or for the transit purse when you next board a bus (nb; allow around 24 hours before travel)
If you have registered your card and then loaded funds but there is still no balance showing when checked against a reader, you can contact us in a number of ways:
- In the first place contact sQuidcard through their website www.squidcard.com. Go to the sQuid help page, click the contact us button, complete the form and click the submit button
- Alternatively go to the Contact us page on the BSmart website, click the Have your say link, complete the form and click the submit button
- Email bsmart@bolton.gov.uk (giving your name, card number and date of birth)
- Phone the BSmart Helpdesk on 01204 334123
What happens if I lose my BSmart card?
If you lose your BSmart card you need to let us know as soon as possible so that we can have the card blocked. To do this you can either:
- call the BSmart Helpdesk on 01204 334123 (you will be asked for some details about yourself to confirm your identity)
- email bsmart@bolton.gov.uk (giving your name, card number, date of birth and a contact phone number)
- go to the Contact us page on the website, click the Have your say link, complete the form and click the submit button
NB: Your first replacement card will be issued free of charge. If you lose your card again, you may be charged for a further replacement card.
What are the differences between the BSmart card, Bolton Smart card and sQuid cards?
Bolton Council now issues BSmart cards to all young people aged 16 and under and Bolton Smart cards to all those aged 17 and over. Both cards enable card holders to borrow library books and / or access activities at leisure centres and to pay for travel on Arriva buses. Only the BSmart card has the additional BSmart (positive activities) purse to pay for activities at registered providers.
sQuidcard have been working with Bolton Council to enable sQuid purses to be added to cards issued by the council. In addition sQuid issue their own sQuid cards, pink in colour, which can be used for cashless payments at registered sQuid outlets. These cards cannot be used for any other purpose other than making cashless payments, ie they cannot be used in libraries or for leisure centre activities.
My BSmart card doesn’t work anymore?
There are a number of different reasons why your card may not be working
- You may not have registered your card with sQuid and / or not loaded any money onto the card
- You may not have any balance available to spend
- It may have been damaged and the chip cannot be read
- The card may have been blocked for security reasons
For help contact BSmart either by phone: 01204 334123 or email; bsmart@bolton.gov.uk
I’ve changed my mobile phone number / email / home address. Who should I contact?
If you have changed either your mobile or home phone number, your email address or your home address, these details can be changed by taking your card in person to your local library or one stop shop. You will need to bring along a proof of address if your home address has changed.
Your card will be placed in a reader and the details amended there and then. When you then next use the card at a library / leisure centre the details will be uploaded to their management systems.
Please note you will also have to contact sQuidcard direct to update your personal details with them. To do this sign in to your sQuid account and click on the My details link on the left hand navigation once you have successfully logged on.
