Prepaid transaction card activation system and method

• US 7,979,351 B1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Webb, Elizabeth Gwen, Lewis, Lance, Vollmer, Nicole Milne
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holly, John H
• Application Number:
  US10/966,995
• Time in Patent Office: 2,461 Days
• Field of Search: 705/41, 705/1, 705/18, 705/39, 705/67, 705/44, 705/38, 705/65, 235/380, 235/383, 235/381, 235/379, 379/114
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

The present subject matter relates to reloadable or non-reloadable prepaid transaction card activation systems. More specifically, the system provides a platform for activation of prepaid or stored value transaction cards and capture of customer demographic information, and verification of that information, after the customer has obtained or has been issued a prepaid transaction card. The data capture is performed at activation rather than at point of sale.

Claims

1. A non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium storing computer code that, when executed by a computer-based system for activating a prepaid transaction card, causes the computer-based system to perform operations, comprising:

receiving identity information identifying the prepaid transaction card;

comparing the identity information identifying the prepaid transaction card with corresponding information contained in a first database;

determining that the prepaid transaction card is not activated based on the comparing;

determining if customer information was associated with the prepaid transaction card during a purchase;

in response to no customer information being associated with the prepaid transaction card during the purchase;

capturing customer information to form captured customer information,

comparing the captured customer information with corresponding information contained in the first database, and

validating the captured customer information when a predetermined minimum number of data points within the captured customer information matches with the corresponding information contained in the first database, by comparing the captured customer information with customer demographic information obtained from a second database;

in response to customer information being associated with the prepaid transaction card during the purchase;

validating the customer information by comparing the customer information with customer demographic information obtained during the purchase from the second database;

comparing the customer information with a stored list of flagged information;

terminating an activation process, if the customer information is on the stored list of flagged information;

determining that the prepaid transaction card is to be used by a card recipient;

capturing the customer information by capturing one or more items of information associated with the card purchaser and the card recipient of the prepaid transaction card; and

activating the prepaid transaction card after the validating, if the customer information is not on the stored list of flagged information.

2. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the step of capturing customer information occurs through an interactive response system.

3. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the step of capturing customer information is manually processed by a customer service representative.

4. The computer readable medium according to claim 2, further comprising:

verifying an account number associated with the prepaid transaction card.

5. The computer readable medium according to claim 4, further comprising:

verifying a security code associated with the prepaid transaction card.

6. The computer readable medium according to claim 5, wherein the step of capturing customer information includes capturing one or more items of information selected from a social security number, a home telephone number, a postal zip code, and a date of birth.

7. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, further comprising:

accessing an internal database containing a customer hot list of flagged information.

8. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the step of activating the prepaid transaction card further comprises a step of creating a personal identification number (PIN).

9. A process of activating a prepaid transaction card, the process comprising:

receiving, by a computer based system for activating a prepaid transaction card, identity information identifying the prepaid transaction card;

comparing, by the computer based system, the identify information identifying the prepaid transaction card with corresponding information contained in a first database;

determining, by the computer based system, that the prepaid transaction card is not activated based on the comparing;

determining, by the computer based system, if customer information was associated with the prepaid transaction card during a purchase;

in response to no customer information being associated with the prepaid transaction card during the purchase;

capturing, by the computer based system, customer information to form captured customer information,

comparing, by the computer based system, the captured customer information with corresponding information contained in the first database, and

validating, by the computer based system, the captured customer information when a predetermined minimum number of data points within the captured customer information matches with the corresponding information contained in the first database, by comparing the captured customer information with customer demographic information obtained from a second database;

in response to customer information being associated with the prepaid transaction card during the purchase;

validating, by the computer based system, the customer information by comparing the customer information with customer demographic information obtained during the purchase from the second database;

comparing, by the computer based system, the customer information with a stored list of flagged information;

terminating, by the computer based system, activation process if the customer information is on stored list of flagged information;

determining that the prepaid transaction card is to be used by a card recipient;

capturing the customer information by capturing one or more items of information associated with the card purchaser and the card recipient of the prepaid transaction card; and

activating, by the computer based system, the prepaid transaction card after the validation process, if the customer information is not on the stored list of flagged information.

10. The process of activating the prepaid transaction card according claim 9, further comprising:

requesting the customer to create a personal identification number (PIN) following the activation step;

receiving the PIN; and

storing the PIN in a database.

11. The process of activating the prepaid transaction card according claim 10, further comprising:

activating an additional prepaid transaction card.

12. The process of activating the prepaid transaction card according claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an opt out communication from the customer causing the customer to be connected to a customer service representative.

13. The process of activating the prepaid transaction card according claim 12, wherein the identity information identifying the prepaid transaction card includes a card number and a security code.

14. A prepaid transaction card activation system comprising:

a prepaid transaction card having identity information;

a processor for administering an incentive program; and

a non-transitory memory storing computer code that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

receive the identity information;

determine that the prepaid transaction card is not activated;

determine if customer information was associated with the prepaid transaction card during a purchase;

in response to no customer information being associated with the prepaid transaction card during the purchase;

capture customer information to form captured customer information,

compare the captured customer information with corresponding information contained in a first database, and

validate the captured customer information when a predetermined minimum number of data points within the captured customer information matches with the corresponding information contained in the first database, by comparing the captured customer information with customer demographic information obtained from a second database;

in response to customer information being associated with the prepaid transaction card during the purchase;

validate the captured customer information by comparing the customer information with customer demographic information obtained from the second database;

compare the customer information with a stored list of flagged information

terminate activation process if the customer information is on stored list of flagged information;

determine that the prepaid transaction card is to be used by a card recipient;

capture the customer information by capturing one or more items of information associated with the card purchaser and the card recipient of the prepaid transaction card; and

activate the prepaid transaction card after the validation, if the customer information is not on the stored list of flagged information.