System and method for managing consumer information

• US 7,818,228 B1
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consumer Direct Incorporated
• Original Assignee: David B. Coulter
• Inventors: Coulter, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalinowski; Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ebersman; Bruce I
• Application Number:
  US11/304,249
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

Computer implemented method and system for repairing credit of a consumer is provided. The method includes presenting a credit report to the consumer via a user interface displayed at a display device; wherein a computerized system provider that maintains a consumer database with information related to the consumer'"'"'s credit presents the user interface; providing the consumer with a first option for disputing the negative entry in the credit report directly with a creditor related to the negative entry and a credit bureau; providing the consumer with a second option for initiating an automated debt settlement negotiation with the creditor related to the negative entry; and providing the consumer with a third option for declaring that the consumer'"'"'s identity has been stolen; wherein the computerized system provider provides the first option, the second option and the third option to the consumer via the user interface.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of repairing credit of a consumer, comprising:

(a) presenting a credit report to the consumer via a user interface displayed at a display device;

wherein a computerized system provider executed by a computer maintains a consumer database with information related to the consumer'"'"'s credit and presents the user interface and the credit report to the consumer at the display device;

(b) presenting a negative entry in the credit report to the consumer via the user interface;

wherein the computerized system provider executed by the computer presents the negative entry at the display device;

(c) providing the consumer with a first selectable option for disputing the negative entry in the credit report directly with a creditor related to the negative entry and with a credit bureau;

(d) providing the consumer with a second selectable option for initiating an automated debt settlement negotiation with the creditor related to the negative entry;

(e) providing the consumer with a third selectable option for declaring that the consumer'"'"'s identity has been stolen;

wherein the computerized system provider executed by the computer provides the selectable first option, the second option and the third option to the consumer via the user interface at the display device;

(f) selecting the first option for disputing the negative entry in the credit report directly with the creditor via the computerized system provider executed by the computer;

wherein the consumer selects the first option from the user interface displayed by the computerized system provider at the display device;

wherein after the first option is selected, the computerized system provider executed by the computer electronically receives a consumer request via the user interface to dispute the negative entry with a reason to dispute the negative entry;

wherein the computerized system provider executed by the computer ranks the consumer request to dispute the negative entry based on a comparison with historical data that indicates whether the consumer has historically filed invalid requests disputing the same negative entry or other credit report entries;

wherein based on the ranking, if the consumer request is not submitted to the creditor then the computerized system provider executed by the computer electronically notifies the consumer and provides a reason for not submitting the request; and

wherein if the consumer request ranks beyond a first threshold value, then the computerized system provider executed by the computer, electronically submits the consumer request disputing the negative entry directly with the creditor;

(g) selecting the second option for initiating a debt settlement negotiation related to the negative entry directly with the creditor via the computerized system provider executed by the computer;

wherein the consumer selects the second option via the user interface and submits an offer to the computerized system provider executed by the computer to settle the debt; and

wherein the computerized system provider executed by the computer ranks the consumer offer to settle the debt using historical data; and

if the consumer offer meets a second threshold value, the offer is submitted to the creditor;

(h) based on the negative entry, selecting the third option for declaring via the computerized system provider executed by the computer that the consumer'"'"'s identity has been stolen;

wherein the computerized system provider executed by the computer eports to an entity that the consumer'"'"'s identity has been stolen;

(i) updating the credit report after an action is taken based on one or more of the selectable first option, the second option and the third option; and

(j) notifying the consumer and the creditor after the credit report is updated;

wherein the computerized system provider executed by the computer electronically notifies the consumer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein based on the consumer selecting the third option, the computerized system provider reports directly to a government agency that the consumer'"'"'s identity is stolen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the consumer pays a monthly fee, a transaction fee, or a combination thereof;

for the computerized system provider to perform any of the actions related to the consumer selected options.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein before an action with respect to the creditor is permitted by the computerized system provider, the action is validated by the computerized system provider by using, at least one database maintained by the creditor related to the negative entry.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein if the action is found to be invalid, additional information is requested from the consumer so that a validation request can be electronically resubmitted to the creditor by the computerized system provider.

6. A system for repairing consumer credit, comprising:

a first computer system executing code for a centralized system provider that maintains a consumer database of consumer related credit information; and

a display device for displaying a user interface to a consumer;

where the user interface is presented by the system provider executed by the first computer system;

wherein the user interface presented by the system provider executed by the first computer system;

(a) presents a credit report to the consumer with a negative entry;

(b) provides the consumer with a first option for disputing the negative entry in the credit report directly with a creditor related to the negative entry;

(c) provides the consumer with a second option for initiating an automated debt settlement negotiation with the creditor related to the negative entry; and

(d) provides the consumer with a third option for declaring that the consumer'"'"'s identity has been stolen;

wherein the consumer via the user interface selects the first option for disputing the negative entry in the credit report directly with the creditor via the system provider;

selects the second option for initiating a debt settlement negotiation related to the negative entry directly with the creditor via the system provider; and

based on the negative entry, selects the third option for declaring via the system provider that the consumer'"'"'s identity has been stolen;

wherein after the first option is selected from the user interface, the system provider executed by the first computing system electronically receives a consumer request via the user interface to dispute the negative entry with a reason to dispute the negative entry and the system provider executed by the first computing system ranks the consumer request to dispute the negative entry based on a comparison with historical data that indicates whether the consumer has historically filed invalid requests disputing the same negative entry or other credit report entries;

wherein based on the ranking, if the consumer request is not submitted to the creditor then the system provider electronically notifies the consumer and provides a reason for not submitting the request;

wherein if the consumer request ranks beyond a first threshold value, then the system provider executed by the first computing system electronically submits the consumer request disputing the negative entry directly with the creditor; and

wherein based on the selected first option, the second option and the third option, an action is performed related to the negative entry in the credit report to assist the consumer in credit repair; and

the credit report is electronically updated after the action is performed.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein after the consumer selects the second option for proposing a debt settlement directly to the creditor related to the negative entry, the system provider executed by the first computing system sends an offer of compromise to the creditor to settle the consumer'"'"'s debt.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the consumer is charged a fee for every action that is initiated by the consumer based on the selectable first, second and third options.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein for executing consumer initiated actions based on the plurality of selectable options, the consumer pays a monthly fee to an entity that controls the system provider.