METHODS FOR FACILITATING CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGES

• US 20090157470A1
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Biasi, Theresa, Wahlig, Trysh, Wolfman, G. Jonathan, Rathbun, Darryl T.
• Application Number:
  US11/955,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20090157470A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00

Abstract

A method of facilitating the maintenance of an address list of each of a plurality of mailers wherein master address information based on current address list information received from each of the mailers is maintained, and wherein the mailers are automatically notified of address changes based on change of address information for a plurality of movers provided. Also, a method of facilitating the maintenance of an address list of each of a plurality of mailers in response to a change of address request being provided to a postal service by a mover that specifies a new address for the mover. Finally, a method of assisting a party to notify selected payees of one or more changes in contact related information for the party that is provided in conjunction with an electronic bill payment system through which a party makes payments to the payees.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating the maintenance of an address list of each of a plurality of mailers, comprising:

maintaining master address information based on current address list information received from each of said mailers;

receiving change of address information specifying a new address for each of a plurality of movers, said change of address information being based on a change of address filed by each of said movers;

comparing said change of address information to said master address information to determine a plurality of matching movers included in both said change of address information and said master address information;

providing each of said matching movers with a list of one or more particular ones of said mailers that have the matching mover listed on their current address list; and

for each of one or more responding matching movers;

(i) receiving a change of address notification authorization from the responding matching mover, said change of address notification authorization identifying a selected one or more of said one or more particular ones of said mailers included in the list provided to the responding matching mover, and (ii) notifying each of the selected one or more of said one or more particular ones of said mailers of the new address of the responding matching mover.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing step comprises preparing a change of address kit for each of said matching movers, the change of address kit for each matching mover including a form that includes the list of one or more particular ones of said mailers that have the matching mover listed on their current address list, and sending each said change of address kit to the associated matching mover.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said sending step comprises mailing each said change of address kit to the associated matching mover.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the change of address kit for each matching mover further includes an explanatory letter.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of receiving a change of address notification authorization from the responding matching mover comprises receiving a completed version of the form included in the change of address kit sent to the responding matching mover.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said maintaining step comprises receiving said current address list information from each of said mailers and cleansing said current address list information before including any of said current address list information in said master address information.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving step comprises receiving change of address information specifying a new address for each of the plurality of movers from a postal service or a third party working on behalf of the postal service.

8. A method of facilitating the maintenance of an address list of each of a plurality of mailers in response to a change of address request being provided by a mover that specifies new contact information for said mover, comprising:

maintaining master address information based on current address list information received from each of said mailers;

processing said mover against said master address information to generate a list of one or more particular ones of said mailers that have the mover listed on their current address list, said list of one or more particular ones of said mailers being provided electronically to said mover; and

in response to receiving a change of address notification authorization from the mover identifying a selected one or more of said one or more particular ones of said mailers included in the list of one or more particular ones of said mailers provided to the mover, notifying each of the selected one or more of said one or more particular ones of said mailers of the new contact information of the mover.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising generating an electronic change of address form including said list of one or more particular ones of said mailers and electronically providing said electronic change of address form to said mover.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising electronically receiving said change of address notification authorization from the mover, said change of address notification authorization being a completed version of said electronic change of address form.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said new contact information includes a new mailing address.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said new contact information includes a new email address or a new phone number.

13. In conjunction with an electronic bill payment system through which a party makes payments to one or more payees, a method of assisting said party to notify a selected one or more of said payees of one or more changes in contact related information for said party, comprising:

receiving a request from said party to assist with a contact information change;

in response to receiving said request, providing a list of said payees to said party;

receiving a notification authorization from the party identifying said selected one or more of said payees; and

providing to each of said selected one or more of said payees changed contact information for the party.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said providing step further includes providing to each of said selected one or more of said payees one or more pieces of information associated with the payee and said party which may be used by said payee to authenticate said party

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein said changed contact information includes one or more of a mailing address, a telephone number and an email address.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said one or more pieces of information associated with the payee and said party include an account number.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said one or more pieces of information associated with the payee and said party include information relating to one or more transactions between said party and the payee.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the changed contact information for each of said payees is the same.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of providing a list of said payees to said party comprises providing an electronic form to said party, said electronic form including said list of said payees and a mechanism for providing the changed contact information for each of said payees.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the changed contact information for each of said payees may vary among said payees.