Refundable prepaid telephone card

• US 5,988,509 A
• Filed: 08/06/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Taskett, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US08/906,735
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/379, 235/487, 283/72, 283/74, 283/75, 283/100, 283/103, 283/105, 283/108, 395/239, 705/39, 705/23, 705/43, 379/144, 379/114, 379/67
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3433 the counter having monetary units
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3558 Preliminary personalisation for transfer to user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/122 Online card verification
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/904 Credit card

Abstract

A prepaid transaction instrument, such as a prepaid telephone card, comprises an identification code for use by a consumer in gaining access to a prepaid telephone account associated with the identification code and a replacement code related to the identification code according to a secret relationship maintained by the issuer of the card. The replacement code may be printed on a separate and distinct document from the identification code or may be printed on the same document as the identification code, but on a separable portion of the document. If the consumer loses the prepaid card, the issuer of the prepaid card issues a replacement card to the consumer when provided with the replacement code by the consumer.

Claims

1. A prepaid calling card ensemble, comprising:

a calling card having printed thereon an ID code which is to be entered by a consumer onto a telephone keypad to thereby gain access to a prepaid telephone account associated with said ID number;

a replacement document, physically decoupled from said calling card, having printed thereon a replacement code which is different from but related to said ID code in accordance with a relationship maintained in secret by the issuer of said calling card;

wherein said calling card and said replacement document are securely disposed within a sealed envelope until purchased by a consumer; and

wherein said replacement document is originally attached to said calling card before being decoupled.

2. The prepaid calling card ensemble of claim 1 wherein said replacement document is dispensed from at least one of an ATM machine and a POS terminal.

3. The prepaid calling card ensemble of claim 1 further comprising a tracking number for activating said prepaid telephone account, said tracking number relating to said replacement code.

4. The prepaid calling card ensemble of claim 3 wherein said tracking number is printed on said sealed envelope.

5. The prepaid calling card ensemble of claim 1 wherein said replacement document comprises a telephone number corresponding to the issuer of said calling card.

6. The prepaid calling card ensemble of claim 1 wherein said replacement code is obscured by a masking surface.

7. The prepaid calling card ensemble of claim 1 further comprising a purchase application form for setting forth to said consumer terms governing the replacement or refunding of said calling card if it is lost.

8. The prepaid calling card ensemble of claim 7 wherein said purchase application form is printed on at least one of said calling card and said replacement document.

9. The prepaid calling card ensemble of claim 1 wherein said calling card further comprises a local memory mechanism for storing information relating to said calling card.

10. A prepaid calling card comprising:

a first portion including a unique identification code associated with said calling card and wherein said identification code is used by a consumer to gain access to a prepaid telephone account associated with said identification code; and

a second portion including a replacement code which is related to said identification code in accordance with a relationship maintained secretly by an issuer of said calling card;

wherein said replacement code is useful by a consumer to obtain from said issuer a replacement card when said prepaid calling card is lost; and

wherein said second portion is removably attached to said first portion.

11. The prepaid calling card of claim 10 wherein said second portion is dispensed from at least one of an ATM machine and a POS terminal.

12. The prepaid calling card of claim 10 further comprising a tracking number for activating said prepaid telephone account, said tracking number relating to said replacement code.

13. The prepaid calling card of claim 12 further comprising an envelope for securely disposing said calling card until said calling card is purchased by said consumer and wherein said tracking number is printed on said envelope.

14. The prepaid calling card of claim 10 wherein said second portion is attached to said first portion via a perforated line.

15. The prepaid calling card of claim 10 wherein said second portion is a distinct document not attached to said first portion.

16. The prepaid calling card of claim 10 wherein said second portion comprises a telephone number for permitting said consumer to contact said issuer to report a lost calling card.

17. The prepaid calling card of claim 10 wherein said replacement code is hidden from a merchant by a masking surface.

18. The prepaid calling card of claim 10 further comprising a purchase application form for setting forth to said consumer terms governing said calling card replacement.

19. The prepaid calling card of claim 18 wherein said purchase application form is printed on said second portion.

20. A method for distributing by an issuer a prepaid transaction instrument to a consumer, comprising the steps of:

issuing to the consumer a first transaction instrument, said first transaction instrument having an identification code associated with said first transaction instrument for providing access to a transaction account, and a replacement code which is related to said identification code in accordance with a secret relationship maintained by the issuer; and

issuing a second transaction instrument to the consumer when the consumer notifies the issuer of said replacement code and that said first transaction instrument is lost; and

wherein said replacement code is removably attached to said first transaction instrument.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said first and second transaction instruments are dispensed by an ATM machine.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said first transaction instrument is issued to the consumer in a sealed envelope, said sealed envelope comprising a tracking number for activating said first transaction instrument.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein said first and second transaction instruments are prepaid telephone cards.