1. DINEAU Overview
1.1 DINEAU is a pre-purchased meal scheme for Aston University students which enables blocks of meals to be purchased at the published preferential rate. The DINEAU scheme covers breakfast and dinner meal services only.
1.2 All Aston University students, when registered on the DINEAU scheme will have a virtual ‘purse’ setup on their Aston University Student Cards (uniCARD), allowing them to redeem credits against meals as specified in their meal plan. Once signed up to a relevant meal plan, a breakfast or dinner credit will be applied to the individual’s account on a daily basis which can be redeemed against the specified service as set out in 1.4.
1.3 All meal package service provision is delivered by Catering@Aston, Aston University’s in house catering department with meals redeemable from the CaféTierra Food Court, Traditional Foods service counter.
1.4 The meal plans provide food services against a set specification:
1.4.1 Breakfast:
• Cooked breakfast to include one 125ml glass of fruit juice and 5 hot items as per the Value Full English hot breakfast OR vegetarian breakfast.
• Or cereal served with milk and 2 pieces of toast, butter and preserve, one 125ml glass of fruit juice
• Tea or black/white coffee from the Traditional Food counter
1.4.2 Dinner:
• Soup of the day or Dessert (slice of cake or hot pudding as provided)
• Main course (meat/fish or vegetarian) from the Traditional Food counter
• No beverages are included and items within the meal plan cannot be substituted in place of other options available.
1.5 DINEAU will not permit access to any food other than those specified above. All other items must be purchased separately. Students may wish to take opportunity of the TouchPay cashless payment scheme running alongside this package deal for additional savings across University catering outlets. Information and terms and conditions for the standard TouchPay cashless payment scheme are available online at www.aston.ac.uk/catering.
2. DINEAU Accounts Eligibility
2.1 Only students of Aston University will be eligible to apply for DINEAU packages.
2.1.1 External organisations who wish to participate in their entirety in the DINEAU scheme will be considered on an individual basis through the Catering Department contacting catering@aston.ac.uk
2.2 A DINEAU account is personal to the registered DINEAU account holder.
2.2.1 Any dealings that are necessary will be with the account holder.
2.2.2 Although account holders can arrange for a third party to make payment for their account on their behalf, we will only deal with the registered account holder.
3. Opening an Account
3.1 A DINEAU account can be registered for:
3.1.1 Online via www.aston.ac.uk/catering
3.1.2 In person with the Catering Manager, G10, Catering Office, Main Building, Aston University.
3.2 To activate an account following registration, the payment of the registered package must be received by Catering@Aston in advance of term time commencing. Appropriate monies will be automatically allocated to your catering account and your credits for selected meals made available.
3.3 The account will become active once payment has been confirmed by Catering@Aston and the applicant has activated their Student ID uniCARD by using the Metro Terminal within CaféTierra, Ground Floor, Main Building, Aston University.
3.4 Student uniCARDs and replacements are issued through Aston University’s ISA Department, 4th Floor Main Building, Aston University between Monday – Friday 10.00 – 17.00.
3.5 The Aston University Catering Department reserves the right to refuse acceptance onto the DINEAU scheme.
4. Online Payments
4.1 Online payments for the DINEAU schemes can be made following registration via the online booking form at www.aston.ac.uk/catering. Following receipt of the booking form, a payment link will be sent directly to the student to make payment.
4.2 Use of the online payment system is governed by the applicable terms and conditions at the relevant time.
4.3 The University accepts no liability if it is unable to accept card payments due to technical problems.
5. Card Ownership
5.1 The uniCARD will remain the property of Aston University at all times.
5.2 It is the responsibility of the card holder to ensure that any lost or stolen cards are replaced via ISA to ensure they are able to continue to redeem their meal plans.
5.3 If you are unable to obtain a replacement card to redeem your meal, students MUST contact either the CaféTierra Food Court Service Manager or Catering Operations Manager prior to meal times. Managers are available by asking in the CaféTierra Food Court or by visiting the Catering Office in Room G10, Main Building, East G.
5.4 Student ID uniCARDS are subject to the Aston University and Information Systems Aston terms and conditions. It is the card holders responsibility to ensure the card is not misused.
5.5 Any misuse of the card in relation to the DINEAU meal plans may result in a student being withdrawn from the scheme with no reimbursement for outstanding meals.
6. Communication
6.1 Communication with DINEAU account holders, once registration has been completed, will be via their registered Aston University email address.
6.2 It is the obligation of the registered DINEAU account holder to inform us of any changes to their contact details. Notification of changes should be made via email to catering@aston.ac.uk.
7. Areas of Availability
7.1 DINEAU scheme is redeemable ONLY at the Traditional Foods counter within the CaféTierra Food Court, EAST G, Ground floor, Main Building, Aston University.
7.2 Dependent on the package selected, the account holder will have access to either Dinner only services or Breakfast and Dinner services.
7.3 Opening hours for breakfast are 08.00 – 10.30. Opening hours for dinner are 15.30 – 18.30. Credits will only be active during these periods.
7.4 Meal packages only apply Monday – Friday during term time. Any deviation from this will be communicated in advance by the Catering@Aston office.
7.5 No other catering outlets or services will accept the DINEAU scheme, however standard Touch Pay cashless accounts can be used to purchase food and beverages in such areas.
7.6 No transfer of credits or reimbursement will be made to the DINEAU packages should services be purchased in alternative outlets or not be consumed during the allotted period.
7.7 Credits cannot be transferred between meal services (i.e. dinner funds used for breakfast or lunch).
7.8 Cards must be presented at all meal times at point of purchase. The provision of a meal will be refused without a card.
7.9 DINEAU meal plan credits will expire at the end of each service. For example, a breakfast credit will not be available after 11.30am and cannot be transferred to another day or refunded.
7.10 It is the account holder’s responsibility to ensure they redeem their meal credits. Unredeemed credits will expire at the end of each service.
8. Topping Up and Extending Meal Plans
8.1 Account holders and third parties may want to extend their packages by each term (if not purchased for the full year in advance) through making additional payments in advance of the term start date. Meal plan extension and payments must be made through contacting catering@aston.ac.uk
8.2 Additional payments must be processed at least 72 hours prior to the commencement of the following term to allow the DINEAU meal plan to be activated on the student’s ID uniCARD.
8.3 The minimum top-up payment will be one term’s package charges. The maximum top-up payment will be one year’s package charges.
9. Termination/Suspension of DINEAU by Aston University
9.1 The DINEAU scheme has no scheduled end but will be reviewed by Aston University on an annual basis.
9.2 The University reserves the right to terminate or suspend the operation of the DINEAU scheme for any reason at any time.
9.3 Registered DINEAU account holders will receive a full refund of any outstanding credits in the event of termination or suspension of the DINEAU scheme by the University.
9.4 Catering@Aston reserve the right to alter or amend these terms and conditions at any time with prior written notice of at least one term.
10. Withdrawal from DINEAU by Account Holders
10.1 Account holders may withdraw from DINEAU at the end of the term, and must provide written notice of withdrawal to catering@aston.ac.uk at least 10 working days before the end of the term.
10.2 On withdrawal from the DINEAU scheme, Catering@Aston will refund any monies due for any full terms not yet commenced.
10.3 An administration charge of £10 will be incurred and deducted from any credits due.
10.4 If no written withdrawal is received, Catering@Aston will assume that the account holder will continue to redeem the credits as per their meal plan package.
10.5 Refunds from unspent credits on a DINEAU account will not be provided automatically in the event of an account holder leaving the University. The account holder must request to be withdrawn from the DINEAU scheme to obtain a refund and the terms and conditions as outlined in 10.2. and 10.3. apply.
10.6 Any funds retained under above outlined withdrawal terms and conditions will remain within the University and invested in future student projects.
10.7 Credits for individual services (i.e. breakfast and/or dinner) cannot be saved, but must be consumed on each day for each service purchased. No refunds will be given for unconsumed services, no carry forward to other days will be possible.
11. Inactive Accounts
11.1 It is the account holder’s responsibility to ensure they redeem their credits for any meal plans purchased. Catering@Aston accept no responsibility for credits not redeemed and no refund or transfer of unspent credits will be possible.
12. Refunds
12.1 Aston University will use all reasonable endeavours to return all eligible refunds as outlined in 10.2 and 10.3 on accounts to account holders within 28 days of termination of, or withdrawal from, the DINEAU scheme and all information being received to enable the Aston University finance department to complete the refund.
12.2 The refund will be made directly into the purchaser’s account and written confirmation of refund will be provided.
12.3 Payments made online will be refunded to the original credit/debit card once the DINEAU account has been deactivated.
13. Fraud
13.1 Once the uniCARD has been issued to you at enrolment, the account holder is responsible for the uniCARD incorporating DINEAU packages and the funds on the account unless and until the uniCARD incorporating DINEAU packages is returned to the University or is reported lost or stolen in accordance with these terms and conditions.
13.2 Account holders cannot loan their uniCARD to any other person. It is for the exclusive use of the registered account holder and not otherwise.
13.3 Anyone discovered attempting to defraud the DINEAU scheme will be subject to University disciplinary procedures and/or will be reported to the Police for further investigation/prosecution.
13.4 Account holders cannot transfer credits from their DINEAU account onto another account holder’s card or into their standard TouchPay account.
13.5 The uniCARD incorporating all catering services is not transferable.
13.6 In all transactions requiring the use of the uniCARD, the outlet will expect to be able to identify the holder of the uniCARD as being bona-fide. Failing this, the University has notified outlets to request that an individual offering a uniCARD for the purchase of goods or services produce an alternative form of ID.
13.7 The University reserves the right to retain the uniCARD at any time and in its absolute discretion.
14. Lost/Stolen Cards
14.1 In the event of an account holder losing their uniCARD they must as soon as is reasonably practicable report the loss of the card to the ISA/Security helpdesk:
Online at http://www1.aston.ac.uk/ict/studentguide/unicard/lost/
Telephone: 0121 204 4803
Email: security@aston.ac.uk
14.1.1 In order to prevent unauthorised DINEAU transactions, the account holder must “Hotlist” their card online through the “Lost Card” section on the TouchPay portal which will immediately disable it from further use until a new card is issued by ISA:
Online: https://touchpay.aston.ac.uk/index.php (24 Hours) (Preferred)
Telephone: (TouchPay Reception - 0121 204 5000 9am to 5pm only)
Email: touchpay@aston.ac.uk (9am to 5pm only)
14.1.2 Following initial notification, and as soon as is practicable, the account holder must report in person to the ISA helpdesk on level four of the Main Building (Monday – Friday 09:00 – 17:00) to organise a replacement card and to complete the lost card report form and must be able to identify themselves as the bona-fide holder of the card.
14.2 Once the loss has been reported and recorded, as described above, the Account holder will not be liable for any subsequent transactions. A uniCARD reported as a “Lost Card” via the above website links will thereafter be void for the DINEAU schemes.
14.3 The account holder will be able to collect a replacement uniCARD from the ISA Helpdesk (with ID such as their passport, driving licence).
14.3.1 Where possible, a new card will be issued the same day.
14.3.2 The value of any unutilised credit on the old card will be transferred as a credit to the new card.
14.4 There is an administration fee for replacing a lost uniCARD ID card incorporating TouchPay.
14.4.1 The charge will not apply where the card has been stolen and a crime number has been obtained for the theft.
15. Corrupt/Damaged Cards
15.1 When a uniCARD cannot be read by the card reader at the payment terminal, the account holder will be asked to report to the ISA Helpdesk to obtain a replacement uniCARD.
15.2 In the instance of a card error at the point of sale, the account will be checked by a supervisor on duty and manually recorded to ensure the scheme can be redeemed.
15.3 The account holder will receive a new uniCARD the same day and the ISA help desk will ensure it is activated ready to use on the DINEUA schemes.
16. Data Protection
16.1 Aston University undertakes to meet the conditions of the Data Protection Act 1998 when collecting personal data. The data collected will only be that offered by the user and will only be used for the purposes of the DINEAU scheme and will not be disclosed to any unauthorised person or organisation.
17. Feedback Procedure
17.1 All feedback regarding any aspect of the DINEAU scheme where possible should be made on the day to the manager on duty to allow an immediate resolution where possible, alternatively by email to catering@aston.ac.uk within 48 hours of occurrence. Full details of Catering@Aston’s feedback process can be found on the website.
17.2 General feedback for the DINEAU packages should be made to the Head of Catering or Marketing Manager via:
17.2.1 The www.aston.ac.uk/catering website, “feedback” section
17.2.2 Email to touchpay@aston.ac.uk
17.2.3 In person at Catering@Aston’s Office, G10, Ground Floor, Main Building, Aston University.
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