Dynamic fee structuring in a stored valude card program

• US 20060289621A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Compucredit Intellectual Property Holdings Corporation II
• Original Assignee: CompuCredit Co.
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Krishnamoorthy, Foss, Sheldon H. Jr., Harris, Dwight
• Application Number:
  US11/139,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20060289621A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1025 Identification of user by a PIN code
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1075 PIN is checked remotely

Abstract

Dynamic fee structuring in a stored valued program is provided. One embodiment is a system for implementing a stored value card program, which comprises: a device that provides stored value card services to a user; and a fee structure database for determining an amount of a transaction fee to charge a user for a stored value card service provided by the device.

Claims

1. A method for loading a stored value card, the method comprising:

receiving a user selection for an amount to be loaded to a stored value card account; and

determining a transaction fee based on the user selection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising loading the stored value card account with the remainder of the user-selected amount minus the transaction fee.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a transaction fee based on the user selection comprises determining a transaction fee based on the amount to be loaded to the stored value card account.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a transaction fee based on the user selection comprises determining a transaction fee based on information related to the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a transaction fee based on the user selection comprises determining a transaction fee based on information related to a merchant device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a transaction fee based on the user selection comprises determining a transaction fee based on a merchant associated with a merchant device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a transaction fee based on the user selection comprises:

submitting a request to a host for the amount of the transaction fee; and

receiving the amount of the transaction fee from the host.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising accessing a fee structure database to determine the amount of the transaction fee.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction fee-comprises an enrollment fee.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction fee comprises a reload fee.

11. A device for providing stored value card services, the device comprising:

an input device that reads data from a stored value card of a user; and

a dynamic fee structure module that automatically determines an amount of a transaction fee to charge a user for a stored value card service provided by the device.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a network interface device configured to communicate with a host via a communications network.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the dynamic fee structure module comprises logic configured to request the amount of the transaction fee from the host.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the dynamic fee structure module comprises:

logic configured to receive a user selection for a load amount to be loaded to the stored value card; and

logic configured to submit a request to the host to determine the amount of the transaction fee.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the dynamic fee structure module submits a request to the host to determine the amount of the transaction fee based on a load amount requested by the user.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the dynamic fee structure module submits a request to the host to determine the amount of the transaction fee based on at least one of a load amount requested by the user, a merchant associated with the device, user information related to the user, temporal information;

and information identifying the device.

17. A system for implementing a stored value card program, the system comprising:

a device that provides stored value card services to a user; and

a fee structure database that determines an amount of a transaction fee to charge a user for a stored value card service provided by the device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the fee structure database determines the amount of the transaction fee based on a load amount requested by the user.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the fee structure database determines the amount of the transaction fee based at least one of a load amount requested by the user, a device identifier, a merchant identifier, temporal information;

and information related to the user.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the fee structure database is included in the device.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the fee structure database is maintained by a host in communication with the device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the device submits a request to the host to provide the amount of the transaction fee based on the fee structure database.

23. A method for implementing a stored value card program, the method comprising:

monitoring transaction data from a plurality of devices, which are providing stored value card services; and

based on the transaction data, developing a fee schedule database for controlling transaction fees to be charged for stored valued card services provided by the plurality of devices.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising optimizing the fee structure database based on the transaction data.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the fee schedule database defines the transaction fees based on at least one of a merchant ID, a device ID, information corresponding to consumer information, temporal information;

and a load amount associated with a stored value card transaction.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising receiving a fee amount request from one of the plurality of devices.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising determining an amount for a transaction fee based on information provided in the fee amount request.

28. A system for implementing a stored value card program, the system comprising:

a fee structure database for receiving fee amount requests from a plurality of devices that provide stored value card services, the fee structure database configured to determine an amount for a transaction fee to charge a customer being serviced by one of the plurality of devices based on the fee amount request received from the one of the plurality of devices; and

a fee optimization engine that receives transaction data from the plurality of devices and updates the fee structure database based on the transaction data.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the fee structure database determines the amount for the transaction fee based on at least one of a merchant ID, a device ID, information corresponding to consumer information, temporal information;

and a load amount associated with a stored value card transaction.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the fee structure database supports at least one marketing program.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the at least one marketing program targets at least one merchant associated with at least one of the plurality of device.