BSmart – Your questions answered (Updated December 2008)
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.
How long do I have to spend the money on my BSmart card?
For this pilot scheme, money can be loaded onto the BSmart purse on the card until the end of March 2009. You can then continue to pay for activities at registered providers through to the end of June 2009.
Can I use the money on my BSmart card at shops, cafes and other places where sQuid is accepted?
Your card has two sQuid e-purses, the BSmart positive activities purse and a sQuid open purse. You can only spend money loaded on the BSmart activities purse at registered activity providers. If you want to buy items at shops and cafes using your card you will first have to put money on the sQuid open purse by topping up your card either online or directly at outlets accepting top ups. Check on the sQuid website at www.squidcard.com for details of locations.
Where can I use my BSmart card?
BSmart cards are accepted at registered activity providers. These currently (at 31st December 2008) include Bolton Arena, Bolton Council of Mosques,Bolton Indian’s Cricket Club, Bolton Lads & Girls Club, Bolton Wanderers - Football in the Community, Bolton YMCA, Casey Lee Jolleys Dance and Drama Academy ,Castle Hill Young Peoples Centre, Farnworth Leisure Centre, Hab Fab Crafts, Harmony Youth, Harper Green Leisure Centre, Hayward Leisure Centre, Horwich Leisure Centre, Kearsley Leisure Centre, Ladybridge Leisure Centre, Leverhulme Park Community Club, Little Lever Leisure Centre, Sharples Leisure Centre, Smithills Hall Musuem, Smithills Sport Centre, Turton Leisure Centre, Westhoughton Leisure Centre & Withins Leisure Centre.
For full details of activities at these venues contact them direct - for contact details check out the Where to BSmart pages on the website. These listings will be updated as new venues go live.
The activity I would like to do does not take place at a specific venue. How can I find out about the activity and how can I pay using my BSmart card?
Orienteering and triathlon are amongst a number of activities that do not take place in a specific venue. In addition some activity providers
- may only hire space in a venue and / or
- do not currently have a broadband facility and therefore will not be able to have a sQuidcard reader to take payments
We are currently finalising an option for payment to be made at a number of other locations, including libraries and the One Stop Shop. A voucher will then be issued for you to take with you when you go to do the activity. Details will be posted on the website when available.
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.
- Firstly you need to register your card with sQuid by going online at www.bolton.gov.uk/bsmart , clicking on the link to Your BSmart account and completing the form to first create your account. You will then be asked to register your card which will require the entering of your card number and the security number to be found on the back of the card. Shortly afterwards, if you then go back on line you will see any monies loaded on the card showing as balance pending. This balance will then be added to your card the next time you make a transaction or check your balance against a sQuid reader at a registered provider.
If you have registered your card and 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 and date of birth)
- 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 issues Bolton Smart cards to all those aged 10 and under and over 17. BSmart cards are issued to young people aged 11 to 16. Both cards enable card holders to borrow library books and/or access activities at leisure centres.
The principal difference is that Bolton Smart cards issued to people over 17 have only a sQuid open purse on the card (or can have this purse added to existing cards). The purse will enable cashless payments to be made at registered sQuid outlets. NB: Bolton Smart cards issued to those aged 10 and under do not have the sQuid purse.
BSmart cards have an additional BSmart positive activities purse. Monies loaded to this purse can only be spent at registered activity providers (to take part in activities) and not at purely sQuid outlets. For details of those providers accepting BSmart cards go to the sQuidcard website at http://www.squidcard.com/bsmartmap.asp?display=0
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 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 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.
