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About your Direct Payment Card Account

About this booklet

We are South Gloucestershire Council.

This booklet is about your Direct Payment Card Account.

What is your Direct Payment Card Account?

It is how we pay you your direct payments.

It is like a bank account.

We pay the direct payments into your Direct Payment Card Account.

You can then use the direct payments to pay for your support.

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You can only use the Direct Payment Card Account to pay for your support.

This is support that you have talked to us about and that is in your plan.

Who runs the Direct Payment Card account?The account is run by a company called Prepaid Financial Services.

Can you say no to the Direct Payment Card account? Please try to use your account. We can support you with this.

But we can look at other ways to pay your direct payments if this does not work for you.

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How does the Direct Payment Card Account work?

Your debit card

You will get a card called a debit card.It looks like this.

It will have a long number on the front called the debit card number.

It will have a security code on the back.

This is the last 3 numbers on the back of your card.

It is next to where you sign your name.

It is sometimes called a CV2 code.

You may need this code if you want to pay for things by phone or on the internet.

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What you can use your debit card for

You can use the debit card to pay for your support.

You can pay for your support:

In person

Over the phone or internet

By bank transfer, standing order or Direct Debit.

This is when you ask your bank to pay your money for you.

The money comes out of your account at the time you want it to.

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You need to ask for people’s bank account number and sort code first before you can pay them.

This is so the money goes to the right place.

You will not be charged money for using the debit card to pay for things.

You can use the debit card but you cannot use cheques.

Money in your account

You can only spend the money that is in your account at the time. You cannot spend more.

You need to have enough money in your account to pay for the things you need.

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You can keep some spare money in your account.

If you are aged 18 and over

You can keep up to 4 weeks’ money.

If you are a parent of a disabled child

You can keep up to 8 weeks’ money.

Information to show what you have paid for

You need to keep any papers to show what you have spent money on.

For example, receipts or invoices.

Checking everything is OK

We will check your account to make sure everything is OK.

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How do you start using your debit card?

Before you use your debit card you must:

1. Sign your name on the back of the card. There is a space for you to sign it.

2. Phone up Prepaid Financial Services to start your debit card. Your card will not work before this.

You will not speak to a real life person. A tape recording will tell you what to do.

3. When you phone up you will also be told your PIN number.

This is the secret number you use with your card. Please keep it safe.

If you forget your PIN number you can call one of the numbers on the next page.

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What number do you have to phone to start your card?

You can phone any of these numbers:

020 3327 1991

020 3468 4112

020 7183 2248

You can phone at any time of day or night.

How can you check how much money is in your account?

You can check by:

Using the internet to look at your account.

Phoning Prepaid Financial Services on 020 3633 1097.

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You can also check by:

Using a bank machine if we say you can use bank machines.

Getting a statement. This tells you how much you have spent and when.

You can get a statement on the internet.

Or you can ask us to send you statements in the post.

Can you use your debit card to take out cash?

You can but only if we say yes to this.

The card will only work in cash machines run by banks.

Remember that some machines may charge you money for taking out money.

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How can you use the internet to check your account or pay people?

You need to go to the website for Prepaid Financial Services.

The website address is: www.prepaidfinancialservices.com/southgloucestershire

Then enter your debit card number. This is the long number on the front of your debit card.

Then enter your PIN number.

Reference to easy read guide if one is produced

How can you use the phone to check your account or pay people?

You need to call Prepaid Financial Services on 020 3633 1097.

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You will be asked some questions like your name, date of birth and address.

This is to check you are the right person.

Can you change your PIN number?Yes but only at a cash machine.

This means you can only change your PIN number if we say it is OK to use your card at a cash machine.

Will your debit card ever stop?

Yes. There is a date when the debit card will stop and you will need to get a new one.

The date is called the expiry date. It is on the front of your debit card.

Please phone us on 01454 868007 if your debit card is about to stop and you don’t have a new one yet.

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Can you ask someone to pay for things for you?

Yes. They will be able to pay for things for you and use your account.

Make sure it is someone you trust.

They need to keep any papers to show what they have spent.

You can tell us if you want someone to do this for you. Phone us on 01454 868007.

What if you need to pay for some of your support?

If you are over 18 we may say you need to pay for some of your support.

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You can pay this money from your own bank account into the Direct Payment Card Account.

Please pay every 4 weeks or every month if you can.

To help us know the money is from you

Please type in PC and your new account number when you make the payment. This is called the reference.

What happens if you don’t want to use your debit card any more?Please phone us on 01454 868007 to let us know.

What if you change your address? Please phone us as soon as you can on 01454 868007.

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What if your debit card is lost or stolen? Please phone this number straight away:

020 3633 1097.

Then phone us on 01454 868007.

You will get a new card in 6 to 12 working days.

How often will you get direct payments?

If you are 18 or over

You will get direct payments every 2 weeks.

We will pay you 3 weeks in advance.

If you are a parent of a disabled child

You will get direct payments every month. We will pay you in advance

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What if you need to speak to someone about your account or have any questions?

If you want to check how much is in your account or if you forget your PIN number

You can phone Prepaid Financial Services on the numbers on page 9.

If you have any questions and need to speak to someone about your account

You can phone Prepaid Financial Services on 020 3633 1097.

You can phone in the day and speak to someone.

If you have any questions about this booklet

Call us on 01454 865949.

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