Bear Bucks Account

All students and employees of the University of Montana are eligible for a Griz Card upon matriculation or employment ("Cardholders”). The Griz Card serves as a photo identification card and provides convenient access to resources and services on and off-campus and can be loaded with Bear Bucks, a prepaid stored value account for purchasing products and services wherever Bear Bucks is accepted. Griz Cards are available and administered by the Griz Card Center.

Bear Bucks is a declining balance food purchasing account available for students, faculty, and staff, which spends just like cash at all UM Campus Dining operations. Features of Bear Bucks include:

• Accepted at the Food Zoo and all UM Campus Dining retail locations.
• 10% discount off the cash price to the Food Zoo Dining Room:
• 5% premium when making a deposit of $200 or more.

The Bear Bucks account (“Account”) tracks funds deposited to the Account and purchases made from the Account. A deposit of funds to a Cardholder’s Account implies the Cardholder’s acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. An Account will be activated upon receipt of an initial deposit and the balance of the Account will be reflected on the Cardholder’s Griz Card. 

Deposits to the Cardholder’s Account can be made in person at UM Campus Dining Lommasson  114, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812 by cash, check, Visa, Discover, American Express, or MasterCard; or by telephone at (406) 243 6325 or online (Visa or MasterCard.) or via payroll deductions if you are a classified or contractual employee of the University of Montana.  Accounts do not earn interest and Cardholders may not use the Account as a credit card, to obtain cash, or to transfer funds.  

The Card

Griz Cards issued to Cardholders remain the property of the University of Montana and are non-transferable. Cardholders must present their Griz Card in order to purchase Bear Bucks products or services.  The Griz Card may be deactivated and/or retained when presented by any Cardholder making inappropriate or illegal use of it.  Participating Bear Buck vendors may require additional identification to ensure that the person using the Griz Card is the actual owner of the Account.

Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Cards

Cardholders who have lost, stolen or damaged Griz Cards may obtain a temporary or replacement Griz Card from UM Griz Card Center during regular business hours. The fee for a replacement card is $20.00 but is subject to change without notice.    

Cardholders are responsible for immediately reporting a lost or stolen card to the Griz Card Center, by telephoning (406) 243-6943 during regular business hours, reporting online 24/7 at grizcard.com or by appearing in person at Griz Card Center, University Center 124, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812. Cardholders are responsible for all Account transactions prior to reporting the loss or theft of the Cardholder’s Griz Card. If there has been fraudulent account activity after lost or theft of card, if the fraudulent activity is reported to UM Campus Dining within two (2) business days of the loss, the Cardholder’s liability for unauthorized transactions is capped at $50.00. If the theft or loss is not reported within two (2) business days of the loss, the Cardholder’s liability for unauthorized charges is capped only by the balance of funds in Cardholder’s Account.

Fees

Transaction fees:  Transactions and deposits made on the Account are not subject to transaction fees. 

Administrative Charges: A $25.00 administrative fee is applied to the remaining balance of the Account when the Account is closed due to the Cardholder’s request or to Account inactivity.

Bad Checks/Collections Fees: The Cardholder is responsible for ALL purchases made with the Account. In the event Cardholder’s Account becomes negative for any reason (including system error or a point of sale reader being off-line at the time of Cardholder’s purchase), Cardholder will be notified of the overdrawn status and will be directed to deposit additional funds to cover the shortage within two (2) business days to prevent deactivation of Cardholder’s Account. Cardholder’s Account will be immediately deactivated upon receipt of notice of insufficient funds for a check presented or fraudulent credit card transaction for an Account deposit. Returned checks and fees will be processed by Business Services according to University policy. For unpaid balances owed, University of Montana may initiate collection proceedings, as well as any attorney fees or other costs or charges necessary for collection of any or all of the balance due. If the balance is referred for collection, the Account may be reported on your credit as a collection item. Your Account may be reactivated upon restitution. The University will use all legal recourse to collect amounts due including, but not limited to, the placement of a hold on student records.

Bear Bucks Account Balance Refunds/Account Closure

A Cardholder who has separated from the University of Montana and whose separation has been verified by the appropriate department may request an Account balance refund from UM Campus Dining. Upon request, the refund process will start no later than 30 days after the last deposit. No partial refunds will be given at any time. Refunds are subject to a $25.00 administrative fee. In accordance with the University of Montana’s Business Services refund account procedures, the remaining amount will first be applied to any debts owed to the University of Montana by the Cardholder. To request a refund, please contact the UM Campus Dining main office at (406) 243-6325 or by University email at dining@umontana.edu.

Unclaimed Property/Account Closure

An Account is inactive if no deposits or purchases are recorded for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months.  Under Montana law, Cardholder Accounts that are inactive for a period of twelve (12) months must be processed as unclaimed property and turned over to the Montana Department of Revenue. After nine (9) months of inactivity, UM Campus Dining will send the Cardholder written notice to the Cardholder’s official University of Montana email address that the Cardholder’s Account has been identified as potential unclaimed property. After twelve (12) months of inactivity, notification will be sent to the Cardholder’s official University of Montana email address that the funds are entering the unclaimed property process. An administrative fee of $25, or the remaining account balance when less than $25, will be assessed by UM Campus Dining at the time the Account is submitted to UM Business Services for unclaimed property processing. In accordance with the University of Montana’s Business Services refund account procedures, the amount will first be applied to any debts owed to the University of Montana by the Cardholder. Business Services will process all unclaimed property in accordance with Montana law.

Receipts and Statements

Most point-of-sale terminals are equipped to provide a receipt for each transaction. It is Cardholder’s responsibility to request a receipt and ensure that the receipt is correct, and to review their Account transaction history on a regular basis. Cardholders may obtain an Account statement listing recent transactions from UM Campus Dining at (406) 243-6325 and online.

Error Resolution

A Cardholder suspecting an error on a receipt or Account statement, or needing more information about a specific transaction may contact UM Campus Dining via Cardholder’s university email account at dining@umontana.edu or in person at UM Campus Dining, Lommasson UM Campus Dining 114, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812. Contact must be made within thirty (30) days of the transaction(s) in question and the following information provided: (1) Cardholder name and ID Number; (2) description of the transaction in question, and a clear explanation of the suspected error or why further information is needed; (3) the dollar amount and date of the suspected error; and (4) a copy of any transaction receipt. 

UM Campus Dining will investigate the transaction(s) in question promptly and will make the necessary adjustments to Cardholder’s Account if a UM Campus Dining error is found. UM Campus Dining’s liability for any such error is limited to the amount of the error.  If no error is found, UM Campus Dining will provide Cardholder a written explanation at the conclusion of the investigation. Cardholder may request copies of documents used to support UM Campus Dining’s determination. Cardholder can expect the investigation and account correction (if any) to take between 2 – 4 weeks. 

Disclosure

UM Campus Dining will disclose information about Cardholder’s Account to third parties for the following reasons only: (1) to complete a transaction requested by the Cardholder; (2) to comply with a lawful court order; (3) to fulfill a lawful University department or program request; (4) in conjunction with all other cardholder accounts in the aggregate but not specific in regard to Cardholder’s account; or (5) with Cardholder’s written permission.

Changes in Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions are effective immediately.  A written notice will be sent to Cardholder’s official University of Montana email account at least twenty-one (21) days before the effective date of any change in a term or condition that would cause increased fees or increase liability for the Cardholder. Prior notice need not be given where immediate change in terms and conditions is necessary to maintain or restore the security of the Account.

Governing Law

This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Montana.