Online registration system for CROA-compliant credit advice services

• US 8,606,694 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Experian Credit Advisors, Inc. (Experian plc)
• Original Assignee: Experian Credit Advisors, Inc. (Experian plc)
• Inventors: Campbell, Jay, Balducci, Michael, Mandel, Jeff, Brandt, Marlin K. Jr., Olson, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILEF, ELDA G
• Application Number:
  US13/175,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20120095894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705 38- 39
• US Class Current: 705/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

Systems and methods for registering consumers for credit repair counseling may include use of electronic signatures and/or authorizations, electronic delivery of documents (e.g., consent and cancellation forms), automated scheduling in accordance with federal and/or state waiting periods, and/or consumer-selectable credit repair topics, among other features.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of registering a consumer for credit repair counseling, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving information identifying a consumer via a network accessible user interface;

determining a state of residence of the consumer;

providing by a computing system comprising one or more processors, to a consumer computing device operated by the consumer a user interface including information requesting consent from the consumer to receive documents regarding credit repair counseling electronically and information regarding terms and conditions of the credit repair counseling;

determining a state mandated minimum delay period associated with the determined state of residence of the consumer;

determining, by the computing system, a minimum delay period based on the greater of a federally mandated minimum delay period and the state mandated minimum delay period;

determining, by the computing system, available dates and times for a first counseling session of the consumer with a credit repair counselor, wherein the available dates are determined such that the first counseling session is scheduled at least a certain number of days after the customer signs up for the credit repair counseling to meet the determined minimum delay;

transmitting, by the computing system, to the consumer computing device, the available dates and times for the first counseling session.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an electronic signature of the consumer indicating acceptance of the terms and conditions.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting further comprises transmitting electronic cancellation forms usable by the consumer to cancel credit repair counseling.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the electronic copies of the terms and conditions of the credit repair counseling and the electronic copies of the cancellation forms are transmitted together.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the electronic copies of the terms and conditions of the credit repair counseling and the electronic copies of the cancellation forms are transmitted in a single electronic communication.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the state of residence is provided by the consumer.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the state of residence is determined based on geolocation information associated with the consumer computing device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving via the user interface, first consent from the consumer to provide documents regarding credit repair counseling electronically and second consent to the terms and conditions for credit repair counseling, wherein the first and second consents are provided via a single electronic signature or a selection of a single user interface element.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the user interface is configured to concurrently display at least a portion of a first agreement to which the consumer provides the first consent and at least a portion of a second agreement to which the consumer provides the second consent, wherein the single user interface element is a checkbox.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing to the consumer computing device a second user interface that indicates a plurality of potential credit repair related topics, wherein the credit repair related topics are individually selectable.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing any selected credit repair related topics to a credit repair counselor that is assigned to speak with the consumer.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the second user interface includes a drop-down menu that lists the plurality of potential credit repair related topics.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the terms and conditions are based on the Credit Repair Organizations Act.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein at least some of the terms and conditions are based on credit repair laws or regulations of the determined state of residence.

15. A computing system comprising:

one or more hardware processors configured to execute software code in order to cause the computing system to;

receive information identifying a consumer via a network accessible user interface;

determine a state of residence of the consumer;

provide to a consumer computing device operated by the consumer a user interface including information requesting consent from the consumer to receive documents regarding credit repair counseling electronically and information regarding terms and conditions of the credit repair counseling;

determine a minimum delay period based on the greater of a federally mandated minimum delay period and a state mandated minimum delay period, wherein the state mandated minimum delay period is associated with the determined state of residence of the consumer;

determine available dates and times for a first counseling session of the consumer with a credit repair counselor, wherein the available dates are after the minimum delay period;

transmit to the consumer computing device, the available dates and times for the first counseling session.

16. The computing system of claim 15, wherein the one or more hardware processors are further configured to execute software code in order to cause the computing system to transmit electronic cancellation forms usable by the consumer to cancel credit repair counseling.

17. The computing system of claim 16, wherein the information regarding terms and conditions of the credit repair counseling and the electronic copies of the cancellation forms are transmitted together.

18. The computing system of claim 17, wherein the information regarding terms and conditions of the credit repair counseling and the electronic copies of the cancellation forms are transmitted in a single electronic communication.

19. A non-transitory tangible computer readable medium storing software code configured for execution by a computing device in order to cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving information identifying a consumer via a network accessible user interface;

determining a state of residence of the consumer;

determining a minimum delay period based on the greater of a federally mandated minimum delay period and a state mandated minimum delay period, wherein the state mandated minimum delay period is associated with the determined state of residence of the consumer;

determining available dates and times for a first counseling session of the consumer with a credit repair counselor, wherein the available dates are after the minimum delay period;

transmitting to a consumer computing device, the available dates and times for the first counseling session.

20. The non-transitory tangible computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing to the consumer computing device a user interface that indicates a plurality of potential credit repair related topics, wherein the credit repair related topics are individually selectable.

21. The non-transitory tangible computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing any selected credit repair related topics to a credit repair counselor that is assigned to speak with the consumer.