Don’t learn this the hard way: If you have a phone capable of wireless charging, putting your ONEcard in contact with your phone while you are charging -- wirelessly or wired -- will damage the RFID chip in your card, rendering it useless. Nearly 50% of replacement cards issued since the beginning of the semester were due to wireless charging damage. A $10 replacement fee is charged for cards damaged by charging.

If you carry your ONEcard in a card-wallet or sleeve attached to your mobile phone, remove it before charging your phone. If you keep any items with an RFID chip in your cell phone wallet, remove them before charging.

If you suspect that your card is damaged, check for a slightly raised bump above either your name or your ID number on the front of your card (as indicated by the red circles in the image above). In severe cases, a small brown burn mark will appear in one of these locations.

Here are some other important tips to prolong the life of your ONEcard:

• Do not bend the card.
• Do not puncture the card.
• Do not expose the card to extreme heat (for example, a clothes dryer or car dashboard on a sunny day).
• Remove your ONEcard from your phone wallet before charging on a wireless or wired charger.
• Use a protective badge holder (available for purchase in the ID Card Office and University Bookstore).

If your ONEcard has been damaged beyond normal wear and tear, a $10 replacement fee is charged. If a card is lost or stolen, a $25 replacement fee is charged (this fee is reduced to $10 if you can provide a police report at the time of replacement).

The ID Card Office is located in the Student Services Building on Lovett Avenue, and can be reached at 302-831-CARD (2273).

For further information, please visit: www.udel.edu/onecard.