Presentation instrument with user-created pin

• US 20070187489A1
• Filed: 02/13/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated), Western Union
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Martinez, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3558 Preliminary personalisation for transfer to user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for activating a presentation instrument using a computerized network. The method utilizes a presentation instrument package that comprises a presentation instrument that is coupled to a carrier. A package identifier on the presentation instrument package is read and transmitted to a host computer system to indicate that the presentation instrument has been purchased. After being purchased, the presentation instrument may be removed from the carrier. To activate the presentation instrument, an access code and a presentation instrument identifier obtained from the presentation instrument may be provided to the host computer system via an IVR unit. Also, the recipient may select a personal identifier to associate with the presentation instrument. The personal identifier may be transmitted to the host computer system for storage.

Claims

1. A method for activating a presentation instrument using a computerized network, the method comprising:

providing a presentation instrument package comprising a presentation instrument coupled to a carrier;

reading a package identifier on the presentation instrument package and transmitting the identifier to a host computer system to indicate that the presentation instrument has been purchased;

removing the presentation instrument from the carrier;

transmitting an access code and a presentation instrument identifier obtained from the presentation instrument to the host computer system to activate the presentation instrument;

selecting a personal identifier;

transmitting the personal identifier to the host computer system.

2. A method as in claim 1, replacing the access code with the personal identifier at the host computer system.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the package identifier comprises a UPC symbol and an account identifier, and wherein the UPC symbol contains information selected from a group consisting of a dollar amount for the presentation instrument, a fee associated with the presentation instrument and a type of presentation instrument.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the package identifier further comprises an account identifier associated with the presentation instrument identifier.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the host computer system includes a status associated with the presentation instrument identifier, and further comprising changing the status to sold when the host computer system receives the package identifier.

6. A method as in claim 5, further comprising changing the status from sold to active when receiving the access code and the presentation instrument identifier.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising a merchant confirming receipt of payment prior to transmitting the identifier to the host computer system.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising transmitting to the host computer system information on a payment vehicle used to purchase the presentation instrument package, and evaluating the information on the payment vehicle for fraudulent behavior.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the fraudulent behavior is based on a number of times the payment vehicle was used during a certain time period or a number of presentation instrument packages purchased with the payment vehicle over a certain time.

10. A method as in claim 1, further comprising accessing an interactive voice response (IVR) system, and wherein the access code, the presentation instrument identifier and the personal identifier are provided to the IVR system.

11. A method as in claim 1, further comprising making a purchase using the presentation instrument at a point of sale (POS) device by reading the presentation instrument identifier at the POS device an entering the personal identifier.

12. A method as in claim 11, further comprising evaluating the presentation instrument identifier received from the POS device to determine a status and declining the transaction if not yet activated.

13. A method as in claim 1, further comprising evaluating an expiration date associated with the presentation instrument at a time of sale of the presentation instrument, and transmitting from the host computer system a decline message if the expiration date is less than a certain time.

14. A method for activating a presentation instrument, comprising:

receiving at a host computer system a package identifier indicating that a presentation instrument has been purchased;

flagging the presentation instrument as sold;

receiving at the host computer system an access code and a presentation instrument identifier from the presentation instrument that has been purchased;

receiving a personal identifier and recording the personal identifier in association with the presentation instrument identifier; and

flagging the presentation instrument as active.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein the host computer system includes an interactive voice response (IVR) unit, and wherein the access code, the presentation instrument identifier and the personal identifier are received at the IVR unit.

16. A computerized presentation instrument activation and processing system, comprising:

a host computer system having at least one processor and at least one database having a record of presentation instrument identifiers and a status of each of the presentation instrument identifiers, wherein the host computer system is configured to receive a package identifier indicating that a presentation instrument has been purchased and to flag the presentation instrument as sold, and to further receive an access code, a presentation instrument identifier from a presentation instrument that has been purchased and a personal identifier, to record in the database the personal identifier in association with the presentation instrument identifier, and to flag the presentation instrument as active.

17. A system as in claim 16, wherein the database has a record of UPC symbols containing information selected from a group consisting of a dollar amount for the presentation instrument, a fee associated with the presentation instrument and a type of presentation instrument.

18. A system as in claim 16, wherein the host computer system further includes an interactive voice response (IVR) unit that is configured to receive presentation instrument identifiers, access codes and personal identifiers.

19. A system as in claim 16, wherein the host computer system is configured to receive information on a payment vehicle used to purchase a presentation instrument and to flag fraudulent behavior based on a number of times the payment vehicle was used during a certain time period or a number of presentation instrument packages purchased with the payment vehicle over a certain time.