Yes.  You can shop at most online stores using your SmartCard. Online stores where you cannot use your card are listed on the Blocked Merchants List. 

The initial daily limit on your SmartCard is set to $1,000 per day.  This is in place to protect your SmartCard account in the instance of it being lost or stolen.

You can increase or decrease this limit by logging into your online TCU SmartCard Account or TCU SmartCard eIM mobile app, or by calling the Customer Service Centre 1800 828 232 (freecall).

When you receive your new SmartCard, you must activate it to be able to use it.  The information that is delivered with your SmartCard explains how to activate your SmartCard.

You can also find out how to activate your SmartCard here.

Once your SmartCard is activated and funds have been deposited into your SmartCard Account, you can start using it.  Please note that your welfare payment is deposited into your SmartCard Account on the day your welfare payment is due.

You can use your SmartCard at any merchant that accepts eftpos or Visa (including online stores) provided that the merchant does not sell alcohol, tobacco products, gambling products or specific cash-like products, gift cards and prepaid cards.  If a merchant’s primary business activity is the sale of alcohol, tobacco or gambling products (e.g. a bottle shop or casino), it will be blocked automatically and you will not be able to use your SmartCard.

You may be able to use your SmartCard to purchase goods and services from a store that sells both restricted goods (such as alcohol, tobacco, gambling products or specific cash-like products, gift cards and prepaid cards) and unrestricted goods if that store has arrangements in place not to process transactions that include restricted goods.  These stores are referred to as “Participating Mixed Merchants” and are listed here.

If a store selling both unrestricted and restricted goods has no arrangement in place to prevent transactions for restricted goods, it will not be able to accept the SmartCard.  These stores are referred to as “Blocked Merchants” and can be found here.

Yes.  As a TCU SmartCard Account holder you can download and use free of charge the TCU SmartCard eIM mobile app via the Apple App Store or Google Play.  The mobile app is called “TCU SmartCard eIM”.  The mobile app has the same functionality as the online SmartCard Account.

Yes.  Please call the Customer Service Centre on 1800 828 232 (freecall) to block your online TCU SmartCard Account if you think someone is logging into your SmartCard Account and making online purchases or payments.  When you want to unblock your online SmartCard Account again, contact the Customer Service Centre on 1800 828 232 (freecall).

If you do not have enough money in your SmartCard Account for your purchase, the transaction will be declined.

No.  Your SmartCard does not allow credit.  This means that if you have insufficient funds on your SmartCard Account, you will not be able to make a purchase.

You can view the past transactions on your TCU SmartCard Account by logging into your online TCU SmartCard Account or TCU SmartCard eIM mobile app.  You can also contact the Customer Service Centre on 1800 828 232 (freecall), your nearest TCU Branch and they can tell you about your transactions.

You may also request regular monthly or six-monthly statements to be mailed to you, or we can provide your statements electronically.

Yes.  Centrepay and the Rent Deduction Scheme are available for everyone who is receiving welfare payments.  Centrepay and the Rent Deduction Scheme payments are paid from the funds which would have otherwise been placed in your SmartCard Account, and will not affect the amount of unrestricted funds you receive (unless all your deductions combined exceed the amount of your welfare payment that is paid into your SmartCard Account). 

Please contact Centrelink if you have any questions about your Centrelink payments, Centrepay or the Rent Deduction Scheme.