Printing FAQ
- What is the Common Balance?
- How do I add credit to my account?
- Why has the College moved to the Common Balance?
- Are there any benefits for students?
- Will the cost of printing change?
- Which queue do I use?
- What about Society printing?
- What about the printing I have already carried out using the old system; how will the transition be managed?
- Who should I contact if I have a problem?
- What happens to any balance in my account when I leave the College?
- Can I print from my own PC to the PWF printers?
- Where can I go for more information?
From Easter 2009, Robinson College has joined other Colleges and Departments in using the Common Printing Balance for printing. We have summarised the most important information in a series of questions and answers below:
What is the Common Balance?
This is a prepayment method of paying for printing, and will apply to the two printers in the Computer Room, the one in the SCR and the one in the MCR. You must have credit in your account to be able to print.
How do I add credit to my account?
Please visit the eCredit website to add money onto your printing account.
Why has the College moved to the Common Balance?
It was decided that moving to the Common Balance would reduce the billing workload on local administrative staff and allow students, Fellows and members to manage their printing as they go along. In addition, you will be able to print to a wide number of locations without having to manage multiple printing accounts.
Are there any benefits for students?
You will be able to print to printers in any of the following locations using your PWF login:
http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/pwf/printscan/cbprinters.html
Will the cost of printing change?
Each College and Department can set its printing charges independently of the others. Our printing charges will not increase or decrease as a result of joining the Common Balance. Please note, however, that printing at a different location will not necessarily cost the same as printing at Robinson. Costs are listed in the link above.
Which queue do I use?
There are several different printing queues depending on who you are and the reason you're printing.
To determine which queue you should use and for what kind of printing, please use the following chart:
What about Society printing?
If a student society wishes to use the Computer Room printers, they should identify a person to carry out the printing (if this is not already the case). The head of the society should then contact the College Office to request that their nominated printing user be given access to the 'privileged print queue'. Societies will be billed in arrears for their printing, as before.
What about the printing I have already carried out using the old system; how will the transition be managed?
You will be issued with a final bill for the old account when the next set of printing bills are calculated.
Who do I contact if I have a problem?
If you have been charged for pages which have not printed, contact the IT Department with details of what you tried to print and when, and we will check your printing records and refund money as appropriate.
What happens to any balance in my account when I leave the College?
Any credits you have paid for are NON REFUNDABLE.
Can I print from my own PC to the PWF printers?
You may be able to print from the PC in your room if your computer's configuration is supported by the University Computing Service. Please see the following instructions:
Where can I go for more information?
The University's printing information is located at:
http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/pwf/printscan/index.html