METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING PAYMENT CODES

• US 20080109334A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CCIP Corporation
• Original Assignee: CCIP Corporation
• Inventors: Potter, Richard C., Naderi, Kasra, Loftsgard, Ricky, LEWIS, Mark K.
• Application Number:
  US11/556,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20080109334A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Methods for providing payment codes to borrowers are disclosed. One method, among others, includes providing payment codes through at least one self-service channel. The borrowers may retrieve their payment codes through the at least one self-service channel without the assistance of another person.

Claims

1. A method of providing payment codes to a customer, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a payment code distribution time for a future payment code, wherein the future payment code disables a Service Interruption Device coupled to a product associated with a payment plan for a first predetermined period of time starting in the future;

(b) at approximately the payment code distribution time, distributing the future payment code to a self-service customer accessible system, wherein the customer may independently access the self-service customer accessible system;

(c) after distributing the future payment code, confirming that a payment instrument for a prior payment code has been received, wherein the prior payment code disables the Service Interruption Device for a second predetermined period of time, the second predetermined period of time being later in time than the first predetermined period of time;

(d) repeating steps (a), (b), and (c), if, and only if, receipt of the payment instrument for the prior payment code is confirmed.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

responsive to confirming that the payment instrument for the prior payment code has not been received, generating a delinquency alert.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of distributing the future payment code includes providing the payment code to a self-service telephony system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the self-service telephony system comprises an Interactive Voice Recognition system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of distributing the future payment code includes providing the payment code to a self-service Internet distribution device.

6. The method of claim 5, the self-service Internet distribution device provides the customer with a web page having content that includes the future payment code therein.

7. A method of providing payment codes to a customer, the method comprising the steps of:

uploading a future payment code to a self-service customer accessible system, wherein the customer may access the self-service customer accessible system without the assistance of another person; and

after the step of uploading the future payment code, confirming that payment for a current payment code has been received.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein self-service customer accessible system comprises a self-service telephony system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the self-service telephony system comprises an Interactive Voice Recognition system.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein self-service customer accessible system comprises a self-service Internet distribution device.

11. The method of claim 10, the self-service Internet distribution device provides the customer with a web page having content that includes the future payment code therein.

12. A method of managing a portfolio of debt instruments, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) acquiring debt instruments from a debt instrument originator, wherein the debt instruments are for products having a service interruption device coupled thereto;

(b) acquiring from the debt instrument originator information for providing payment codes associated with the acquired debt instruments;

(c) enabling payment instruments for the acquired debt instruments to be received through a plurality of payment channels;

(d) enabling payment codes to be distributed through a plurality of distribution channels, the plurality of distribution channels including at least one self-service channel, wherein a specific borrower may receive a specific payment code via the self-service channel without the assistance of another person;

(e) providing a given future payment code to the at least one self-service channel, wherein the given future payment code is associated with a give debt instruments, wherein the given future payment code disables a given service interruption device for a period of time in the future;

(f) after providing the given future payment code to the at least one self-service channel, determining for the given debt instrument whether a payment instrument was received for a prior payment code; and

(g) repeating steps (e) if, and only if, the payment instrument for the prior payment code was received.

13. The method of claim 12, further including the steps of (e), (f), and (g) for each of the acquired debt instruments.

14. A method for providing payment codes for disabling a service interruption device coupled to a product being purchased under a payment plan with periodic payments, the method comprising the steps of:

automatically generating a first payment code, the first payment code being operative to disable a service interruption device coupled to the product until a first expiration time;

providing access to the first payment code through a self-service customer accessible system;

automatically generating a next payment code on a periodic basis;

providing access to the next payment code through a self-service customer accessible system;

detecting the occurrence of a triggering event;

upon detection of the triggering event, suspending the step of automatically generating the next payment code;

detecting a remediation of the triggering event;

upon detection of the remediation of the triggering event, continuing the step of automatically generating a next payment code.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of detecting the occurrence of a triggering event further comprises detecting the delinquency of the periodic payments.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of detecting the remediation of the triggering event further comprises detecting the remediation of the delinquency of the periodic payments.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the periodic payments have a due date and the step of detecting the triggering event further comprises detecting the passing of a due date without having received a payment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of detecting the remediation of the triggering event further comprises detecting the reception of a payment associated with the passed due date.

19. A method for providing payment codes for disabling a service interruption device coupled to a product being purchased under a payment plan with periodic payments, each payment having a due date, the method comprising the steps of:

automatically generating a first payment code, the first payment code being operative to disable a service interruption device coupled to the product until a first expiration time;

providing access to the first payment code through a self-service customer accessible system;

automatically generating a next payment code on a periodic basis;

providing access to the next payment code through a self-service customer accessible system;

detecting the occurrence of a payment due date without having received the payment;

upon detection of the missed payment, suspending the step of automatically generating the next payment code;

receiving the missed payment;

upon receiving the missed payment, continuing the step of automatically generating a next payment code.