Housing Office - Overview | Ohio University

The Bobcat Cash Program

Bobcat Cash is money put on account (a prepaid debit card) that can be used at the dining halls, convenience stores, vending machines, laundry centers, and various on campus food-service and retail operations. Simply add money to this account and then use the Ohio University-issued ID card to access this service. Additional deposits can be added as needed throughout the academic year. Bobcat Cash cannot be used off-campus, does not allow for cash withdrawals, and cannot be used to purchase textbooks.

Bobcat Cash account balances will automatically carry over to each new quarter and/or academic year, provided the cardholder remains a registered student or employee of Ohio University. The maximum amount available per day is $100 or the entire balance, whichever is less. There is no limit on the frequency of transactions.

Bobcat Cash funds are nontransferable. For security reasons, additional information may be required to prove identity of the card presenter, who also may be asked to sign a proof of purchase sales slip.

There are no charges for any transactions using the Bobcat Cash account, nor will there be any interest earned for the cardholder on any Bobcat Cash balance. There is a $20 charge for closing a Bobcat Cash account and requesting a refund of available monies. Refund requests must be made in writing to the Housing Office and no partial refunds will be made. Ohio University reserves the right to apply requested refunds to other amounts owed to the University. A check for the balance will be mailed within 15 business days of receipt of the request.

Inactive Bobcat Cash Accounts - Should one calendar year pass with no activity and the cardholder is no longer a registered student or employee of Ohio University (Athens Campus), the balance of the Bobcat Cash account will be forfeited.

Account Documentation and Disclosures - Cardholders are entitled to a printout of any and all transactions of their Bobcat Cash account. Requests for documentation should be made at the University ID Office, the Housing Office, or Dining Service locations. If any statement shows transfers that were not made by the cardholder, the cardholder should contact the Housing Office immediately at 740.593.4090. If the Housing Office is not notified within 60 days after the statement was made available to the cardholder, the amount charged after the 60 days may be forfeited if the University can prove it could have stopped illegal use of the card. The University will only disclose information about Bobcat Cash accounts to third parties when it is necessary for completing transactions; in order to comply with government agencies, internal University investigations, or any court orders; or with written permission from the cardholder.

Bobcat Cash Account Setup - A minimum deposit of $50 is needed to activate your Bobcat Cash account. Initial payments for Bobcat Cash may be included with your online Housing and Dining Services contract. Subsequent deposits to your account can be made in person, via the student's eAccount, or by mail to the Office of the Bursar. Funds deposited to Bobcat Cash account will be available for use 24-48 hours after the deposit is received.

Lost or Stolen ID Card - During normal business hours, notify the university ID Card Office at Baker Center 112, 740.593.1610 or Campus Safety at Scott Quad 135, 740.593-1911.

WARNING: Lost or stolen card liability states that if the University is notified of the lost card within two business days, the cardholder will be responsible for no more than $100. Failure to notify one of the above departments wihin the two days may result in a maximum liability of $500, providing the University can prove it could have prevented the illegal use of the card. For costs associated with acquiring a new ID card, visit www.ohio.edu/technology/ids.

Adding Funds

Check or Money Order (payable to Ohio University)
In available memo section, specify 'Bobcat Cash' and the student's PID. These can be mailed to Office of the Bursar, 010 Chubb Hall; Athens, OH 45701-2979.
On-line, eChecks or Mastercard, Discover, and American Express can be used on-line through the student or authorized user eAccount at www.ohio.edu/bursar. There is NO service charge for an eCheck payment. A 2.9% service charge will be assessed on a credit card payment.

Charges

There are no charges for any transactions using the Bobcat Cash account. Nor will there be any interest earned for the cardholder on any Bobcat Cash balance. There is a $20.00 charge for closing a Bobcat Cash account and requesting a refund of available monies.