Questions re JAC Card

<p>I've got a couple of parent-type questions regarding the JAC Card. There's all sorts of info on the JMU site, but I can't find anything relating to this.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Does the student use a PIN with his FLEX account? My son just opened his FLEX account and deposited some money, but there's no mention anywhere of a PIN needed. This is basically a debit account, so I'm surprised to see no reference to a PIN. Without a PIN lost cards can be drained of their FLEX dollars by an unscrupulous finder, correct?</p></li>
<li><p>JMU Card Services sent an e-mail that we could open a Dining Dollars Gold account after he's exhausted his Dining Dollars. Isn't that cutting it a little close? Why not allow a Dining Dollars Gold account now? I'd like to know that he's got a reserve if he runs out of the Dining Dollars.</p></li>
<li><p>Does the FLEX account allow the student to withdraw cash from an ATM machine? I didn't see any reference to a way for the student to turn his FLEX account back into cash if he needs to.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>My son has the JAC/Flex account, and there is no PIN number for it. There is a photo ID on the JAC card, so I suppose that’s one way to prevent unauthorized use. The best way to prevent unauthorized use is not to lose it. My son lost his once, and there were no issues like that. He mostly uses the FLEX for laundry.</p>

<p>There is no way to access FLEX account for cash. There is a Commonwealth One bank on campus, with several ATM’S. We opened an account there for him, he has an ATM card, and he can get cash from the ATM’s on campus, or in town, with no fee’s.</p>

<p>I’m a current JMU student so hopefully I can help out here.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>There is no PIN for your flex. If you lose it, its an easy call to card services to get the card turned off so no one can use it if they find it. But I’ve personally never heard of anyone using a found card. People are too nice around here to do anything like that. I know people who have lost 10 cards and have never had a problem with someone spending their money.</p></li>
<li><p>I have trouble using up all my Dining Dollars. I would wait a few weeks to see at what rate your son uses his dining dollars before committing money to a Gold account.</p></li>
<li><p>You can’t withdraw cash from your JACard, but there are tons of ATMs on campus you can use to withdraw cash from your regular bank account from. I opened an account with PNC and they let me use any ATM without fees so that works well.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>The JACard is wonderful. You can use flex off campus as well. Some pizza delivery places will accept FLEX (all you have to do is give them your student ID number) as well as other random places like the Toyota dealership.</p>

<p>You can buy a car at the Toyota dealership with flex?</p>

<p>Only if your parents are willing to put a few thousand dollars on your card! Its certainly nice to have for when you need an oil change or minor maintenance while you have your car in Harrisonburg.</p>

<p>Got it! That makes sense… I was just imagining a parent getting surprised with a $20,000 JAC Card bill :)</p>

<p>That wouldn’t happen; you have to put the money in before you can take it out, I recall – it’s more like a debit than a credit card, except you can’t overdraft.</p>

<p>Good plan! :)</p>