USCard swipe - how do you make sure they take Dining Dollars before Discretionary?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>So my son has the plan that comes with $500 Dining Dollars, yet I just looked at his USCard account and the few meals/beverages he's had since moving in Wednesday have been deducted from the "discretionary" funds available on his card. Perhaps Dining Dollars don't work until classes start?</p>

<p>Does he need to somehow designate that he wants Dining Dollars used up before Discretionary? It would make sense for it to be automatic since the Dining Dollars don't roll over to the next term.</p>

<p>And there seems to be no place on the USCard site to even SEE the Dining Dollars used or available. How do we know they're on there? I know I paid for his meal plan, because it was on my bill!</p>

2

<p>when he goes up to the cashier he needs to state that he’s using dining dollars. the hospitality staff assumes discresh because 90% of the students don’t have mealplans.</p>

3

<p>When he uses dining dollars the register will say how many dining dollars he has left. Same with discresh</p>

4

<p>wait so should i say meal plan everytime i go to a dining hall so they don’t take money out of my dining dollars account??</p>

5

<p>Just heard from someone at USCard services. They said the cashiers are trained to swipe for dining dollars first, before going to dischresh. But I’m sure it doesn’t hurt to ask them as well.</p>

6

<p>^ Really? As a current student, I can definitely attest that it feels like cashiers assume that you are using discresh. Unless it’s maybe TroGro, since that’s a huge freshman spot. Most students only use discretionary money, so generally if you are using dining dollars, you need to specify.</p>

7

<p>I’m sure the “training” doesn’t always stick.</p>

8

<p>From my past experiences, most of the cashiers generally ask me dining or discresh. But if you want to be certain, as soon as you order, just tell them to use dining dollars.</p>

9

<p>to avoid ambiguity, always say “dining” or “discresh” when you hand your card to the cashier</p>

10

<p>Just say “dining” and check the receipt afterwards.</p>

11

<p>Ground Zero doesn’t take Dining Dollars. :(</p>

12

<p>Yep, Ground Zero and the Galen Center (the food place on campus, not the basketball stadium) don’t take dining dollars. I think everywhere else on campus does though.</p>

13

<p>I always say “Dining” before they swipe my card, as it appears that they generally assume I’m using discresh.</p>