Wireless communication device account payment notification systems and methods

• US 20040078327A1
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated), Western Union
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Algiene, Kenneth, Frazier, Patricia A.
• Application Number:
  US10/273,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078327A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3221 Access to banking information through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for notifying a wireless communication device user regarding an account payment. One method comprises dialing a phone number of a wireless communication device, preferably a cell phone. A communication relating to an account payment that includes a balance due is then transmitted or delivered to a wireless communication device user. Optionally, at the same time or a later time, input from the wireless communication device user may be received regarding payment of the balance due. Such notification methods may be carried out by a host computer system which has a record of when the account payment is due and dials and transmits within a predetermined time frame. Generally, such methods will further comprise pre-registering or enrolling the wireless communication device user.

Claims

1. A method for notifying a wireless communication device user regarding an account payment, the method comprising:

dialing a phone number of a wireless communication device;

transmitting a communication relating to an account payment that includes a balance due; and

receiving input from a wireless communication device user regarding payment of the balance due.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising receiving an answer from the wireless communication device prior to transmitting the communication.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the answer comprises a live verbal response from the wireless communication device user or a voice mail of the wireless communication device user.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the communication comprises a verbal communication or text message.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein transmitting further comprises requesting whether no, partial, or full payment of the balance due is to be made.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein transmitting further comprises requesting a new credit card, debit card, or ACH transfer authorization or a pre-registered payment option approval from the wireless communication device user for a partial or full payment of the balance due.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein transmitting further comprises identifying a provider location where payment is made in-person by currency, check, credit card, debit card, or ACH transfer from a bank account.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the provider is a third party payment service provider affiliated with a plurality of offices.

9. A method as in claim 7, wherein the provider is a wireless communication device provider.

10. A method as in claim 7, wherein the provider is a billing party.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein receiving input further comprises receiving a new credit card, debit card, or ACH transfer authorization or a pre-registered payment option approval from the wireless communication device user for a partial or full payment of the balance due.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein receiving input further comprises receiving a return phone call to a customer service representative or an IVR system, a return text message, an internet response, an e-mail response, an in-person visit from the wireless device user, or a mail response.

13. A method as in claim 1, further comprising receiving a payment of at least a portion of the balance due in response to the received input from the wireless device user.

16. A method as in claim 13 or 14, further comprising transmitting a payment receipt to the wireless communication device user.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein the payment receipt is transmitted to a wireless communication device user'"'"'s mailing address, e-mail address, text message number, or voice mail number.

18. A method as in claim 13 or 14, further comprising updating account payment records.

19. A method as in claim 1, wherein in the wireless communication device comprises a cell phone, a personal digital assistant device, or a wireless communication device that receives verbal communication or text messaging.

20. A method as in claim 1, further comprising pre-registering the wireless communication device user.

21. A method as in claim 20, wherein pre-registering comprises receiving and storing information from the wireless communication device user or a billing party regarding at least one bill payment account.

22. A method as in claim 21, further comprising creating a name identifier associated with each bill payment account.

23. A method as in claim 20, wherein pre-registering comprises receiving and storing information from the wireless communication device user regarding a payment option.

24. A method as in claim 23, wherein the payment option is selected from a group consisting of checks, credit cards, debit cards, or ACH transfer from a bank account.

25. A method as in claim 20, further comprising creating a user identifier associated with the wireless communication device user.

26. A method as in claim 25, wherein the user identifier is the wireless communication device phone number.

27. A method as in claim 1, wherein the dialing and transmitting is carried out by a host computer system which has a record of when the account payment is due and dials and transmits within a predetermined time frame.

28. A method as in claim 1, wherein the account balance is not past due.

14. A method as in claim 15, further comprising transferring the payment of at least a portion of the balance due to a billing party.

29. A method for receiving account payment notification on a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

answering a phone call on a wireless communication device;

receiving by a provider a communication relating to an account payment that includes a balance due; and

transmitting payment information in accordance with the balance due to the provider.

30. A method as in claim 29, wherein answering comprises a live verbal response from the wireless communication device user or a voice mail of the wireless communication device user.

31. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program embodied therein for directing operation of a computer system for a provider, the computer system including a communications system, a processor, and a storage device, wherein the computer-readable program includes instructions for operating the computer system to notify a wireless communication device user regarding an account payment in accordance with the following:

dialing a phone number of a wireless communication device; and

transmitting a communication relating to an account payment that includes a balance due.

32. A computer-readable storage medium as in claim 31, wherein the computer-readable program further includes instructions for operating the computer system for receiving input from a wireless communication device user regarding payment of the balance due.

33. A computer-readable storage medium as in claim 32, wherein the computer-readable program further includes instructions for operating the computer system for receiving a payment of at least a portion of the balance due in response to the received input from the wireless device user.

34. A computer-readable storage medium as in claim 33, wherein the computer-readable program further includes instructions for operating the computer system for transferring the payment of at least a portion of the balance to a billing party.

35. A computer-readable storage medium as in claim 33 or 34, wherein the computer-readable program further includes instructions for operating the computer system for transmitting a payment receipt to the wireless device user.

36. A computer-readable storage medium as in claim 33 or 34, wherein the computer-readable program further includes instructions for operating the computer system for updating account payment records.

37. A computer-readable storage medium as in claim 31, wherein the computer-readable program further includes instructions for operating the computer system for receiving and storing pre-registered information on a wireless device communication user.

38. An account payment notification system, the system comprising:

a host computer; and

a database associated with the host computer, the database having a record of pre-registered information on a wireless communication device user including a user identifier, an account payment, and when the account payment is due;

wherein the host computer is configured to dial a phone number of a wireless communication device and transmit a communication relating to the account payment that includes a balance due within a predetermined time period.