Thank you for your interest in accepting the Bearcat Card (BCC), which is a way for UC students and merchants to conduct transactions with minimal risk, greater convenience, and improved accuracy. For your benefit, we have provided answers to merchants’ most frequently asked questions regarding BCC. Feel free to call our office at 513-556-2000 if you have any questions not covered on this site.

• What do I need to do to get started?
• How long does it take until the system is running at my store?
• Who will train my staff to use the equipment?
• Where do I obtain the VeriFone equipment?
• How much does the VeriFone equipment cost?
• What should I do if my equipment is not working?
• Will my business increase if I accept BCC?
• How much will my business increase after I accept?
• What marketing does the University provide for my business?
• What happens if a student lacks sufficient funds to pay for the merchandise?
• What happens if I accept a stolen card?
• How will my business be reimbursed for sales?
• Cash Flow is obviously important to my business. Can't I be reimbursed for sales on a weekly basis?
  

What do I need to do to get started?
You will need to:
        1. Complete and return the Merchant Application Form.
        2. Execute the Merchant Agreement Form and return it to the University.
        3. Fill out the electronic bank form and the W-9 tax form and fax them to 513-556-0495,
            or mail them back to the University of Cincinnati.
        4. Purchase your VeriFone credit card reader and printer.
        5. Call us at 513-556-1260 to have your VeriFone scheduled for installation, and your staff trained to use it.

How long does it take until the system is running at my store?
It generally takes about two weeks from the time you call to make an appointment with the University technician for installation and training. (You must have your VeriFone reader and printer on premises before you schedule an appointment).

Who will train my staff to use the equipment?
Our BCC manager, technician or designated qualified trainer will train a reasonable number of your staff, and provide written documentation on using equipment.

Where do I obtain the VeriFone equipment?
Check with your BCC manager or your bank or financial institution where you do business. You can also check with your neighbor merchants who already have the equipment. If you need assistance on locations to purchase the VeriFone, contact our office.

How much does the VeriFone equipment cost?
The Tranz 330 reader and printer costs from $99 to $130 as a set. You can buy each piece seperately, just ask your BCC manager for a price.

What should I do if my equipment is not working?
Call the BCC office at 513-556-2000. Someone will promptly assist you thereafter. The warranty on your equipment is with the vendor where you purchased the equipment, not the BCC office. However, we will check the equipment out for you. If necessary, we will give you a loaner in case your equipment has to go back to the vendor for repair. The University is not liable for losses incurred for failure of the equipment to function properly.

Will my business increase if I accept BCC?
It is very possible that your business will increase. More and more students are purchasing with the BCC. As more merchants sign on to participate in the program, many students will be exclusively using BCC. Students are attracted by the safety and convenience of campus cards and begin to expect that their favorite merchants will accept such cards.

How much will my business increase after I accept?
Sales volume increases can vary. Sales volumes of participating merchants increased 10% to 18% after they began accepting the BCC.

What marketing does the University provide for my business?
Merchants accepting the BCC are the beneficiaries of many free marketing efforts by the University. The University advertises the Bearcat Card in the school newspaper and a variety of other publications. The University posts numerous advertisements and distributes many brochures regarding BCC that include your store name and phone number. Furthermore, UC advertises BCC at most University sponsored events. Many of these advertisements and brochures list businesses accepting BCC. Our website, which is regularly updated, will also list merchants accepting BCC along with your web address that users can access from our site. In addition, future University promotions regarding coupons, discounts, or sweepstakes related to BCC will also likely provide information regarding participating merchants. Off campus merchant specials are listed on the BCC Facebook page.

What happens if a student lacks sufficient funds to pay for their merchandise?
This program strictly involves debit transactions, so if a student does not have sufficient funds for the purchase, the transaction will automatically be denied.

What happens if I accept a stolen card?
If you accept a stolen card you are not eligible for reimbursement for the sale, so staff must be trained to carefully inspect all presented cards and check the photo on the ID. Does it match the person?

How will my business be reimbursed for sales?
The University reimburses merchants by electronic deposit once a month for sales. UC deducts a 4% fee from the reimbursement. Payments are based upon reported sales in the BCC system. Merchants can check their daily BCC totals at the end of each evening from their Verifone. Our office distributes sales daily or monthly by email.

The University prepares funds for transfer the second or third working day of the month. Funds will be deposited to your account monthly or weekly.

Cash Flow is obviously important to my business. Can't I be reimbursed for sales on a weekly basis?
Some businesses elect to receive weekly electronic deposits with a 5% service fee, rather than the usual 4%.