Using your Meal Card can be rewarding

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Q: How does the Southern Meal Card Program work?
A: You get a card from our cashiers. You can either fund the card at the cash register or by registering it at mealcard.southernfoodservice.com. You can then use it to make purchases in the café. We believe you will find that it's Safe, Fast, Convenient, Easy to Use and has many Added Benefits that alternate means of payment do not have. It's FREE, so please read on!

Q: How will I benefit by using this program?
A:

  • It's safer than cash. If you lose your cash, it's likely gone forever. If you lose your Southern Meal Card, you can deactivate it and transfer your balance to a new card.
  • It is fast, because it processes faster than cash or a credit card transaction.
  • You can receive automated purchase reports detailing the item's you purchased and the costs. This feature also cuts down on the number of line items you need to review when looking over your bank statement or credit card bill.
  • If the credit card processors go down, the Southern Meal Card still processes when credit cards won't.
  • For the customers that love their Credit Card Rewards points, they still get them. We are not asking you to stop using your Credit Cards only that you start using them to fund the Southern Meal Cards instead of using them to make small purchases in the café.
  • You never need to worry again about bringing your purse or your wallet to the café; just bring your Southern Meal Card.
  • If you sign up for the auto funding feature, you should always have money in your account.

Q: Why does Southern encourage me to use a Meal Card instead of a Credit Card?
A: Several reasons, here's why: We do not have to pay the Credit Card Companies and the processing companies fees for processing our Southern Meal Cards when used to make purchases in our cafés. This saves us money, which in turn can help you save money. How? Because when the cost of doing business increases, the end customer is typically the one that get's left holding the bill. We are simply trying to reduce credit card costs and hold prices down. Did you know a vast majority of the time we have to pay approximately $.30 in transaction fees to process a $1.00 transaction when a customer elects to use their own debit card? That’s a 30% cost! Rather than passing this cost along to you, we are asking that you help us help you because it benefits us all to lessen the number of credit card transactions.

Q: What if I do not want to fund my account online?
A: You can typically fund your account at the cash registers using cash or a credit card.

Q: How do I get started?
A: Pick up a card from the café. Register your card at mealcard.southernfoodservice.com. If you have multiple cards, you may register them all. Click the "Register Card Tab" and follow the steps. In the event you need assistance, please feel free to contact us for help.

Q: How do I set up my account so that I can monitor my purchases?
A: Go to the My Account Tab, there you can elect to receive weekly or monthly emails of your purchases. These reports can include the items purchased and the amount spent.

Q: Can I receive reports if I do not fund my account online?
A: Yes. You just need to register your card online. You can then receive reports without funding the account online.

Q: Is it safe to store and process my credit card over this site?
A: Yes. This is a secure website. Your card information and your transaction processes through a third party so we (Southern) do not store your credit card information and we never have access to your credit card information.

Q: How long does it take for funds to be available for me after I process a funding transaction online?
A: It normally takes less than five to ten minutes, however with any web based program, the more time you give the system to update your balance, the more likely it is to update prior to you arriving at the checkout stand.

Q: What happens if my card is lost or stolen?
A: Go to the Deactivate Card link on the Home page of mealcard.southernfoodservice.com to disable use of your card. You may then obtain a new card from the café, activate it and transfer the balance from your lost card onto your new card. There is a small transfer fee associated with this transaction to help discourage the misuse of this feature.

Q: Can I still pay with Cash?
A: Yes. However, you will find that it is quick and convenient to use the Southern Meal Card Program.

Q: Can I make a recommendation?
A: Of course and please do. This program was developed because our customers asked for a better way of paying and we listened. We relish any opportunity to better the Southern Meal Card system. Please visit mealcard.southernfoodservice.com and click the "Contact Us" tab. Recommend away!

Southern Foodservice Management, Inc.
431 Office Park Drive, First Floor
Birmingham, AL 35223
1-800-872-8014 Toll Free

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