TCS India FAQs - Food Card

VERSION 7.0

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  2016

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This document must not be copied in whole or in parts by any means, without the
written authorisation of the Head - Global HR, TCS.

Document Release Notice

The TCS India FAQs – Food Card ver 7.0 is released for use in TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) with
ef f ect from 1 February 2021
This document is subject to TCS Document Control Procedure.
A soft copy of the latest version of this document is available in MyHR in Knowmax.

This document was last updated/reviewed on 12 August, 2021.

Approved & Authorised By: Sathya Narayana Mehta (Head - Policy and Talent Transf ormation)

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 Frequently Asked Questions – Food Card
This document aims to address queries related to Food Card applicable to all India employees, ACE Interns
on TCS India payroll, except business associates, foreign associates and contract consultants.

This document lists the frequently asked questions and their answers, which may help you to understand
the changes introduced and clarify any queries that you might have.

1. What is a Food Card?

Food Card is an electronic pre-paid card which offers the ease and convenience of providing employees
with a card platform to procure Food and related items.

2. What items can I use the Food Card towards?

All Food and related items only should be procured f rom the food card. All non food items are strictly
prohibited to be purchased through the food card.

3. How can I obtain a Food card?

Food Card may be procured via HDFC Bank Ltd. or ICICI Bank Ltd or Sodexo across all locations in
India. Choice of the vendor to obtain Food card will be solely at the discretion of the employee.

A. Food card of HDFC Bank Ltd. Or ICICI Bank Ltd

• Employees are required to connect with the issuing vendor helpdesk/portal and f ollow their
procedures to obtain a food card. The card will be issued by the respective vendor representatives,
based on submission of documents such as ID and address proof, TCS identity card.

• The card will be activated within 5 working days of employee’s submission of KYC documents (such
as proof of identity and address) to the bank & an SMS alert will be provided on the mobile number
updated in the Application form.

Refer to Ultimatix  Learning & Collaboration  Knowmax  MyHR  India  Benefits 

Allowances, Entitlements & Claims  Food Card Application Forms – HDFC Bank / ICICI
Bank.

• Employees requesting f or HDFC Food Plus Card, can raise a request online for a new f ood card
through the below link:

Refer:
https://leads.hdfcbank.com/applications/webforms/apply/HDFC_FoodplusCard_TCS/Index.
aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

• The card would be delivered to the employee in 8-10 working days, post which the employee can
log on to above mentioned link again and activate the card.

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 B. For Sodexo Meal card
Sodexo Meal Pass is a fully digital meal benefit solution. This card comes with a 3-year validity and
is accepted at Sodexo-affiliated merchant outlets pan-India f or the purchase of f ood and non-
alcoholic beverages. Once activated the virtual card can be used across online portals as well as
f or contactless payments at QR code enabled outlets which accept Sodexo Meal Pass.

• Employee can visit opt-in portal http://www.sodexobrs.com/tcs and provide necessary details
such as Name, Mobile No, TCS Email ID & Delivery address.
• Once the request is successfully placed, a confirmation email will be sent on the registered email
ID.
• A Virtual card email will be sent to the employee within 2 business days and physical card will be
dispatched to employee address in 7-10 days.

Note: TCS does not recommend the Food card of any particular vendor.

4. How will I receive my card details once I have opted for the Sodexo Meal card? How can I activate
my card?

Employees will receive a Welcome Email* containing details of their Sodexo Meal Pass. The below
mentioned online process is required to be followed in order to activate the card before usage:
● Employee can visit Card activation portal - https://activation.sodexobrs.com
● Following details to be provided:
⁻ Registered email address (same as one provided at the time of opting for Sodexo card).
⁻ Mobile number.
⁻ 12-digit card reference number (as mentioned in Welcome Email).
● Employee to Click on ‘Get Activation Code’ and the code will be received on Email/SMS.
● Employee to provide KYC information (such as proof of identify and address.
● OTP-based mobile number verification step to be completed.
● Finally, employee is required to Click on ‘Activate Card’.

Once the Sodexo Meal Card has been activated, employees can download the Sodexo-Zeta App to
view their card details.

*Activation/ welcome email will be sent from [email protected]

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5. I wish to obtain Food Card of a particular Bank; however I have TCS Salary account in another
Bank. Will I need to shift salary account for this reason?

To obtain food card of a bank, it is not necessary to have salary account with the same bank.

6. What is the next step post obtaining the Food Card?

Employees should update the Food Card number bef ore payroll f reeze date in Global ESS via
Ultimatix  Employee Services  Employee Self Services  Global ESS  My Profile  Food
Card to receive the monthly eligible amount by end of the month.

7. Can I mention my personal e-mail ID on the Application form?

Employee needs to mention a valid active e-mail ID which may be either a personal or official ID. This
ID will be used by the bank for all Food Card related communication.

8. Where can I use Food Card and is there a PIN required?

Food card may be used to purchase food and related items at all domestic VISA/ Merchant enabled /
Network enabled f ood & non-alcoholic beverage outlets, Online Food portals which f all under the
category of restaurant / fast food restaurant/ bakeries / dairy products/ candy, nut, confectionary stores/
Miscellaneous food stores, in India including TCS canteens. Cards can be used f or online and instore
purchases. The PIN issued by the bank is required to use Food card.

Sodexo Meal Pass is a PIN-based card. Employees can set a PIN on their own using the Sodexo-Zeta
app or on Sodexo web portal https://web.zetaapps.in. Employee can also use the Dynamic PIN
f eature to generate a new PIN each time. Refer to the Indicative List of Food Outlets on MyHR
where these cards may be used.

Are there any transactions for which I cannot use my Food Card?

The Card cannot be used to withdraw cash. Food Card should be used only to procure f ood and related
items. All non food items are strictly prohibited to be purchased through the food card.

9. What is the maximum amount that I can define under Food Card?

A maximum monthly amount of Rs.3000/- can be defined under Bouquet of Benefits - Food Card. This
is the maximum monthly amount on which no tax will be deducted.

10. If I have reached the maximum balance on the Food Card, how will I receive the monthly Food
Card component?

If the balance exceeds the maximum balance permissible on the Food Card at the time of loading, the
entire monthly Food Card amount will not be credited on the card but will be added as taxable
component in monthly salary.
Note: Employees are advised to use the Food Card regularly and monitor the remaining balance on
the card to avoid rejects due to excess balance.

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11. What do I do if my Food Card is lost/stolen?

Employees are responsible for safety of their Food Card and its usage. TCS will not be responsible for
loss /misuse. In case of lost card, employee will need to connect directly with vendor’s customer help
line number f or assistance.

A. HDFC Bank FoodPlus Card

Email:[email protected]

Refer to the below link for assistance :

https://leads.hdfcbank.com/applications/webforms/apply/HDFC_FoodplusCard_TCS/Index.asp
x?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

B. ICICI Bank Multi Wallet Prepaid Card

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 24*7 access @ 33667777 (STD code of the nearest region needs to be prefixed –
Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai)

C. Sodexo Meal Card

Employees can block and unblock card through the Sodexo-Zeta mobile app.
● Customer Support – 1800 267 3030/ 1800 103 3030

● Email : [email protected]

● Sodexo Corporate Website – https://www.sodexo.in

12. What is the validity of the Food Card?

The validity of the Food card f rom Banks is 5 years from the date of issue i.e. “Valid From” as printed
on the card. Sodexo Meal card comes with a validity of 3 years.

13. What will happen to the available balance on the card after the card has expired?

Employees should utilize the balance before the expiry date mentioned on the card and can place a
request f or the replacement card with the Customer Care unit of the respective . In case there is balance
available on the food card post expiry date, the card holder needs to approach the issuing Vendors, in
his/her individual capacity, to transfer the balance on new food card as per the terms & conditions laid
down by the RBI/ card issuing vendor.

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14. I am a new joinee. How can I obtain details of the food card and the options available?

New joinees will be provided details of TCS authorised vendors at the time of induction. They can
alternatively connect with their Unit HR f or the process to obtain the Food card. Refer to Ques 3 in
this document for more details.

15. I am a new joiner who has joined in the middle of the month. I have not received the entire
amount of Food Card as mentioned in my offer letter in the first salary credit. What should I do?

For new joiners, the Food Card amount is paid on a pro rata basis from the date of joining till end of the
month depending on their BoB component.

16. Can I continue to use my existing Food Card issued by my previous employer after joining TCS?
New joiners can continue to use the card issued by your previous employer till there is balance available
on the same. However, when employee requests for Food card after joining TCS, a new card will be
issued. All credits from TCS will be loaded on the new card.

17. If I travel overseas on an international assignment, how will I receive the amount on Food Card?
In case of travel overseas on an international assignment and home country payroll continues, the
eligible amount towards Food Card is paid as a taxable component in employees’ monthly salary.

18. I don’t require Food Card. What should I do?

Employee will need to redefine Bouquet of Benefits (BoB). Amount under Food Card can be changed
to zero and adjusted by the same amount in any other components under BoB. If the Food Card Amount
in BoB is not changed it will be paid as a taxable component in the monthly salary.

Note: In case employee has already exhausted the two options to modify the BOB in the FY, in order
to discontinue food allowance, they may remove the food card number from GESS  My Profile 
Food Card, in which case the amount will be paid as a taxable component in the monthly salary.

19. As per my new compensation letter, my Food Card amount increased, but the amount I received
in my food card is as per my previously designed BoB. How do I get it according to my new
entitlement?

Even if there is a change in total BoB entitlement due to a change in compensation, self-defined BoB
will remain the same. Any revision in the BoB amount will be paid in salary under the taxable component
‘BoB Kitty Allowance’, until employee designs the new BoB for the revised amount.

20. If I reset my BoB before payroll freeze of the month, from when will it be effective?

Any amount defined in BoB before payroll freeze date (which is usually by the 7th of the month), will be
ef f ective from the same month onwards provided the Food Card details are updated under GESS 
My Profile  Food Card. In case BoB is defined after payroll f reeze date, then the changes will be
ef f ective from the subsequent month.

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21. How to register and login into the Prepaid Card Portal?
ICICI Bank Multi Wallet Prepaid Card

Step 1 Type the f ollowing url on your internet browser:

https://inrprepaid.icicibank.com/customer/login.jsp
Step 2 Click on New User Sign Up link
Step 3 Enter the card No and press submit to enter CVV
Step 4 Sign Up Page opens up f or capturing basic details such as User Id, Password, Transaction
Password and set of security questions for later authentication
Step 5 Click submit and login with the username and password created in Step 4

HDFC Bank FoodPlus Card

Step 1 Type the f ollowing url on your internet browser:

https://hdfcbankprepaid.hdfcbank.com/hdfcportal/html/LoginFrame.jsp
Step 2 Enter User ID - FoodPlus Card Number is the user Id
Step 3 Enter Password - Use Activation Code / IPIN provided in the kit
Step 4 Click on login to access the site

22. How can I view the balance and the transactions on my Food Card?

You can check the balance and view the transaction wise statement via the below options:

A. ICICI Bank Multi wallet Card

Option 1: Customer Care number - 24*7 access @ 33667777 (STD code of the nearest region
needs to be prefixed – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai)

Option 2: Refer to https://inrprepaid.icicibank.com/customer/login.jsp to log into the Self Care

Portal

B. HDFC Bank FoodPlus Card

Option 1: Refer to the below link,

https://leads.hdfcbank.com/applications/webforms/apply/HDFC_FoodplusCard_TCS/Index.asp
x?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Option 2: Email: [email protected]

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 C. Sodexo Meal Card

Option 1: Download the Sodexo-Zeta App to view their card details.

Option 2: visit Sodexo web portal https://web.zetaapps.in to access Meal Card details

23. Where can I get a list of outlets that accept the Sodexo Meal Pass?

There are two ways to find the merchant directory:

• Download the Sodexo-Zeta mobile app and click on the ‘Merchant List’ option to view the list of
Sodexo Merchant outlets.

• Find the Sodexo Merchant Web directory on https://www.sodexo.in/users/merchant-directory/

24. ICICI Bank card is a Multi Wallet Card. Can I use if for other purposes?

TCS has a tie up with the bank to load the card only f or the Food allowance component. It cannot be
used f or any other purpose. No amount can be loaded on this card by employee.

25. Can I use my Food Card post separation from TCS?

TCS will stop loading the Food Card amount on the Card post month of separation. Employee may
utilize the available balance on the card up to expiry date of card. In case there is balance available on
the f ood card post expiry date, the card holder needs to approach the issuing bank, in his/her individual
capacity, to transfer the balance on new f ood card as per terms & conditions of RBI /card issuing vendor.

26. Will I be able to switch my preference for the Food Card between different vendors at any given
point?

Employee may choose to switch f rom one vendor to other vendor, but they will be able to enter only
one card number in GESS at any given point of time. On Payroll freeze date, the card details registered
in GESS will be considered for Food Card amount processing.

27. Where can I raise queries related to Food Card?

Queries can be addressed to location HR or HR Helpline team or by logging an e-ticket.

Ref er to the below link to raise queries in Global Helpdesk.

https://ghd.ultimatix.net/ehelp/TicketMgmt/wfregistration.aspx

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