Effective 11 September 2024
As soon as you use your Debit Mastercard® you are deemed to have agreed to these Conditions of Use. These Conditions of Use form the contract between yourself as the cardholder and Unity Credit Union, trading as Unity.
Under these Conditions of Use, you are required to:
If you have any enquiries about your Debit Mastercard®, you can call us on 0800 229 943. If you need to write to us, our address is Unity, P O Box 431, Hastings 4156.
Please let us know straight away if you change your personal details such as phone number, address or email.
account – means your nominated Unity account from which funds may be withdrawn by using your card.
ATMs – means any automatic teller machine.
branch – means any Unity branch.
card – means your Unity Debit Mastercard®.
cardholder – means any person who holds a card.
card number – means your personal account number, as shown on your card.
contactless terminal – means an EFT terminal which can be used to make contactless transactions.
contactless transaction – means a transaction made by holding a payment instrument with contactless technology close to the card reader on a contactless terminal without having to insert or swipe the card.
EFT – means electronic funds transfer, which is the process by which funds are withdrawn electronically from your account. You authorise an EFT by using your card with your PIN at an electronic funds device.
electronic funds device – in New Zealand, means any Unity ATMs, any branch terminals, point of sale terminals or any other ATM approved by us as a device in which the card may be used in accordance with these Conditions of Use within New Zealand. Overseas, electronic funds device means any electronic funds device displaying the Mastercard® symbol.
off-line funds transfer – means the process by which funds are withdrawn from your account when an electronic funds device is out of operation or a merchant does not have EFT facilities. You authorise an off-line funds transfer by signing or authorising the issue of an off-line payment voucher.
PIN – means personal identification number.
we, us, our or Unity – means Unity Credit Union.
you or your – means the account holder or cardholder, depending on the context.
Your card and card number are the property of Unity. You must not copy or reproduce the card. If Unity tells you to return or destroy your card, then you must do so.
Mastercard® is a registered trademark of Mastercard® International Incorporated.
It is necessary for you to select a PIN before you can use your card.
When you select your PIN, you should choose a number that you will be able to remember easily as you must memorise it. You must not choose unsuitable numbers such as birth dates, months or years, parts of your telephone number, parts of your card number or sequential or easily identified numbers (e.g. 2345 or 2222). You must also not use numbers from personal data such as your driver's licence or password or other numbers easily connected with you. To protect your PIN, we recommend using different PINs for different cards and equipment e.g. security alarms, phone etc.
For your security, your PIN must not be:
You must ensure no one can see you enter your PIN at ATMs and EFTPOS terminals.
You must exercise every possible care to ensure the safety of your card and to prevent disclosure of your PIN and card number.
You must ensure your browser is set so that it does not save your card details / passwords or autocomplete
You must not allow others to use your card, card number or PIN. You must always get your card back after using it and ensure when storing your card that the card number is not visible to anyone. Do not leave your card in an unattended wallet, purse or vehicle or anywhere a thief could remove the card without being noticed (particularly in night clubs, hotels or restaurants). If your card is lost or stolen it could be used for unauthorised transactions, which may result in a loss to you.
You must not send your card overseas or have any other person send your card to you while you are overseas. Please contact us to find out about sending a card overseas or receiving a card while you are overseas.
You must notify us immediately if:
You will be required to provide us with information on how the loss of your card, PIN, or card number occurred. We may pass on all relevant information to the Police.
If you are outside New Zealand, you must notify a bank which displays the Mastercard® symbol, or if you cannot find a bank which displays the Mastercard® symbol, notify us by calling +64 6 826 2924. There may be a charge to your account if a replacement card is required.
If you have misplaced your card, you can use Unity’s Mobile Banking App or Internet Banking to temporarily block your card. When you temporarily block your card, recurring payments or subscriptions will continue, but new payments will not be processed with the card. A temporary block does not report the matter to Unity – you must separately notify us. Once you have found your card, you can unblock your card through Unity's Mobile Banking App or Internet Banking. If you want to permanently block / cancel your card, you must contact us as soon as possible.
If someone else has a separate card linked to your card account(s), they will still be able to make transactions using their card despite you temporarily blocking or cancelling your card.
Your liability if your card, card number or PIN is stolen or lost
Once you have told us that your card or card number has been lost or stolen, or your PIN disclosed, either in New Zealand or overseas, you will not be held responsible for any unauthorised use of your card after that time, unless one of the circumstances listed below applies:
In the above instances, your maximum liability will be the lesser of:
If your card gives you access to an account with a credit facility (e.g. an overdraft facility), the failure to look after your card and PIN could result in a substantial loss for which you could be held responsible.
If one of the circumstances listed above applies, you also need to pay:
Unity liability
Unity will be responsible for any direct and/or reasonably foreseeable loss or damage caused by the failure of either your card or any electronic funds device (excluding any card or EFT terminal which is obviously faulty, or in the case of an EFT terminal which has been advised by message notice or display as being faulty) to function properly. We will also be liable for any direct or indirect loss or damage which results from the fraudulent or negligent acts or omissions of our employees or agents.
Liability for transactions charged to your account
You are responsible for all transactions made with the use of your card or card number. You will be required to pay us the amounts on all:
There are risks involved if you or another cardholder on your account initiates a transaction by mail order, telephone order, internet or by email. You are giving authority to the merchant to process an EFT transaction or issue a sales voucher for the purchase amount which will be debited to your account. You should consider the security and standing of the company or entity you are doing business with.
If you or another cardholder on your account initiate recurring payment transactions, i.e. if you agree with a merchant that an amount will be debited against your account on a regular basis, then you are liable for meeting those transaction amounts even if you close your account.
In certain circumstances your agreement with the merchant may authorise the debiting of your account with additional purchase amounts without the need for your signature. Provided these amounts have been incurred under the terms of that agreement they may be charged to your account.
If you think a transaction shown on your statement is incorrect, you can dispute it, provided you notify us in writing within 60 days from the date of the transaction. In some situations, if you do not receive the goods or services you have ordered with your card or by use of your card number, or you have not authorised a transaction, you may be able to get a credit for the transaction.
If you have a joint account with another member and each of you have your own card, each of you are bound by these Conditions of Use. You and any joint account holder are also liable both jointly and severally for any amount owing to us on that joint account. This means that either of you may be required to pay the outstanding balance owed on the account.
We will accept instructions relating to the account from either joint holder.
Either of you may cancel your card or apply for a new card for yourself for the joint account. Each of you will remain liable for all transactions initiated or charged to the cancelled account prior to cancellation, as well as any costs and expenses incurred after cancellation.
Joint accounts that require multiple joint account holders to sign cannot have card facilities.
Use of your card constitutes an irrevocable order to Unity, and you may not stop payment of a transaction made using your card. There are limited circumstances under which we can reverse a transaction which will be subject to the Mastercard® scheme rules. For example, we cannot reverse a transaction where there is a dispute with a merchant about the quality of goods and services. We will not be responsible for the goods and services supplied by any merchant, and any complaints or disputes you have with the merchant must be resolved by you directly with the merchant.
Electronic funds transfers will be debited to your account on the day the transaction is made, or as soon as possible thereafter, subject to our right to vary the date of debiting due to circumstances beyond our control. When you use your card in an electronic funds device other than a Unity ATM or branch terminal, the transaction will be processed as soon as we are notified by the bank that owns the electronic funds device you used.
When systems are fully operational, maximum limits apply to the use of your card, subject to your available credit limit or the available funds in your account(s). The current maximum limits are included on our website and may be updated from time to time.
You will be obliged to pay any amounts debited to your accounts which exceed the daily EFT transaction limits set out on our website. In addition, there may be a daily limit on the number of EFT transactions you may make using your card. Limits are set lower for some transaction types and may be changed at any time by us.
In respect of off-line funds transfers, any voucher signed or authorised by you shall be authority for us to process the transaction to your account. The transaction will be processed as soon as we receive it.
The acceptance of an electronic funds transfer or an off-line funds transfer is not a representation by us that you have sufficient funds in your account to cover the transfer of funds. Where a transfer overdraws your account, normal overdraft charges will apply. Details of these charges are available on our website.
If an off-line funds transfer is processed to an account that has either been closed or is open and there are insufficient funds to permit the transaction, we will not be deemed in any way to have consented to that transfer. You are liable for meeting the transaction amount.
If you wish to dispute a transaction on your statement, you may do so. See the section on ‘Transaction disputes’ below in these Conditions of Use.
In New Zealand, your card will be accepted in any electronic funds device or by any merchant displaying the Mastercard® symbol. If you are overseas, your card will be accepted by banks and merchants displaying the Mastercard® symbol and at any electronic funds device displaying the Mastercard® or Cirrus symbol. However, we will not be held liable if any bank or merchant either refuses to accept the card or will not allow the card to be used to purchase particular types of goods and services available at the premises. We will not be responsible for the goods and services supplied by any merchant. Any complaints or disputes you have with the merchant must be resolved by you directly with the merchant.
The use of your card for foreign currency transactions may be subject to exchange controls or other government requirements. Mastercard® processes, and converts into New Zealand dollars, cash advances, purchases and/or charges made in foreign currencies at the rate(s) of exchange fixed by Mastercard® on the day the transaction is processed by Mastercard® (and not necessarily the date that you enter into your transaction).
A foreign currency fee will be charged by Unity on any such foreign currency transaction in addition to any fee charged by the merchant and/or Mastercard®. Details of fees are available on our website.
Where a foreign transaction is reversed or refunded to your account(s), including by the merchant, the total may be different from the original amount debited due to changes in the currency conversion rates that may have occurred between the time the original transaction occurred and the time of the reversal or refund.
You may use your card to make contactless transactions in New Zealand and overseas with any bank or merchant displaying the Mastercard® symbol and the Mastercard® contactless technology symbol.
You will be required to enter your PIN or sign to use your card for contactless transactions in New Zealand over $200. Different limits may apply overseas (which we have no control over).
For security purposes, you may also be required to enter your PIN or sign to use your card from time to time to make a contactless transaction in New Zealand or overseas.
Some merchants may apply a surcharge to purchases made by tapping your card on the contactless terminal. This should be drawn to your attention before you proceed with the transaction. This surcharge amount will be added to your total purchase amount, debited from your account, and may be shown on your receipt separately, or as the total transaction amount.
In the event that your card becomes damaged or faulty, we will issue you with a new card when you return the damaged/faulty card to us, together with a description of how the damage or fault occurred. There may be a charge to your account for this replacement card. Such a replacement card will be subject to these Conditions of Use as if it were the original card.
Fees and charges that may be incurred and charged to your account are subject to change without notice, and details of these charges are available in our Rates and Fees Guide which forms part of the Conditions of Use.
The Rates and Fees Guide is available on our website or by contacting us.
Purchases made using your card may result in Unity holding the funds in your account until the payment is processed by the merchant. The amount of funds held by Unity will be equal to the amount paid for your purchase using your card. The funds may be held up to a maximum of seven business days. Merchants may also check the card authenticity by requesting a hold for a nominal amount. This often occurs with hotels, airlines and online shopping merchants and may remain in place for up to 10 days and may temporarily reduce the amount of available funds in your account. If authorisation was given for the purchase or payment, the outstanding balance on your account may be greater than the available funds in your account.
In addition to these Conditions of Use, the use of your card in an EFT terminal is subject to the conditions imposed from time to time by other financial institutions who are parties to any EFT system.
Unity may cancel your card at any time or refuse to replace the card after the ‘expiry date’ displayed on the card without prior notice. If you are notified that your card has been cancelled, you can return the card to Unity or securely dispose of it.
You may cancel your card at any time by contacting us. However, you remain responsible for all outstanding monies until they have repaid in full, including any transactions, fees, interest, collection charges, penalties and any other amounts that may be incurred after you have cancelled your card.
You are responsible for checking your transactions regularly to ensure their accuracy and advising us of any mistakes. Transaction summaries are available on Internet and Mobile Banking, or on request from us.
If you do not notify us of a disputed transaction within the time period stated below then the charge or record of the transaction will remain on your account.
If you dispute any transaction, you must notify us in writing within 60 days of the date of the transaction, giving the following information:
Once you have notified us of the disputed transaction, we will investigate the matter and acknowledge your complaint within five business days. Failure to report the incorrect, invalid or unauthorised transaction within 60 days of the date of the transaction may result in us being unable to investigate the dispute and you will have to pay for it. Where it is established that an error occurred by Unity it will be corrected, and you will be advised of any appropriate adjustments which will be made to your account in respect of fees and other charges.
If, as a result of our investigation, we believe the charge or transaction should remain, we will inform you of our reasons and any applicable charges.
If you have followed Unity's internal complaints procedure and you are still not satisfied with the outcome of the investigation, you may refer the matter to the Banking Ombudsman Scheme.
In respect of disputes between merchants and cardholders, refer to the ‘Card transaction requirements’ section of these Conditions of Use.
Google Pay is a service provided by Google and not by Unity. We are not liable for any costs associated with Google Pay being unavailable, or the failure of third-party merchants to accept payments using Google Pay. When adding your card to Google Pay from the Unity Mobile Banking App, you agree that we will provide to Google your name as it appears on your card or as associated with your product, as well as your card or product details. We may also send to Google, on their request, the country or postcode of your address. All information sent is for the purpose of adding your card to Google Pay and facilitating Google Pay Payments.
By using Google Pay you agree that:
If you do not agree to your information being disclosed or used in this manner you should not add your card to Google Pay.
If you have any concerns or problems, please let us know and we’ll do our best to resolve it right away.
Unity is a member of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme. If you’re still unhappy after we’ve reviewed your complaint, then you can get free independent assistance from the Banking Ombudsman Scheme.
You agree we may use and disclose personal information held about you now or in the future (including information about transactions involving your card) in accordance with the Privacy Statement on our website.
You agree to provide all information to Unity that Unity requires to manage and comply with its anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing obligations, to manage its economic and trade sanctions risks and to comply with any laws, rules or regulations in New Zealand or any other country. You agree that Unity may refuse to establish a relationship with you, may be required to delay, defer, stop, charge back or refuse to process any transaction, or may terminate its relationship with you at any time and without notice if you fail to provide this information to Unity in the manner and timeframe specified by us.
You agree that Unity may delay, defer, stop, charge back or refuse to process any transaction without incurring any liability if Unity knows or suspects that:
For each transaction conducted using your account, you represent and warrant to Unity that, to the best of your knowledge, information, and belief at the time the transaction takes place, the transaction will not breach any laws or regulations in New Zealand or any other country relevant to the transaction.
We reserve the right to vary these Conditions of Use at any time. We will give you reasonable notice before we make any changes to these Conditions of Use by: