Dynamic credit score alteration

• US 20070156576A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Miritz Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Apollo Enterprise Solutions LLC (Apollo Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: House, William, Imrey, G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,814,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/38
• 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

A method for providing credit score information for a user to the user is provided. The method comprises offering the user an option to obtain information related to a credit score via a computer networking arrangement. The method further determines credit score information once the option is selected by the user, and providing the credit score information determined to the user via the computer networking arrangement.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

offering a user an option to obtain information related to a credit score;

contacting a credit bureau once the user selects the option to obtain information related to the credit score; and

providing the information related to the credit score to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the offering comprises making an offer to the user for the user to receive a specified credit score if a specific settlement transaction option is selected.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting comprises:

providing user information to the credit bureau;

providing information regarding a potential transaction resolution to the credit bureau; and

receiving an estimate of an increase in user credit score if the transaction is resolved in a manner as provided to the credit bureau.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the estimate of the increase in user credit score comprises an improved credit score.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the estimate of the increase in user credit score comprises an anticipated change in credit score over an existing credit score.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting comprises obtaining the user'"'"'s current credit score, and the method further comprises:

computing an estimated increase in the user'"'"'s current credit score estimated by an entity other than the credit bureau, said computing occurring after contacting the credit bureau.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said offering occurs over a communication network connecting the user with a server;

said contacting is initiated by said server; and

said providing is performed by the server.

8. A method for settling a transaction, comprising:

offering a user an option to resolve the transaction coupled with an ability to obtain credit score information if the option to resolve the transaction is selected by the user;

determining credit score information once the option is selected by the user; and

providing the credit score information determined to the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining comprises contacting a credit bureau with information pertaining to the transaction contemplated to be settled and obtaining credit bureau credit score information, wherein the credit score information comprises credit bureau credit score information.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining comprises computing an estimated credit score improvement without contacting a credit bureau, and wherein the credit score information comprises the estimated credit score improvement.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining comprises:

initially contacting a credit bureau to obtain the user'"'"'s credit score;

determining an improvement to the user'"'"'s credit score separate from and without further contacting the credit bureau, wherein the credit score information comprises the improvement to the user'"'"'s credit score.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining comprises:

providing user information to a credit bureau;

providing information regarding a potential transaction resolution to the credit bureau; and

receiving an estimate of an increase in user credit score if the transaction is resolved in a manner as provided to the credit bureau.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the estimate of the increase in user credit score comprises an improved credit score.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the estimate of the increase in user credit score comprises an anticipated change in credit score over an existing credit score.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining comprises obtaining the user'"'"'s current credit score, and the method further comprises:

computing an estimated increase in the user'"'"'s current credit score estimated by an entity other than the credit bureau, said computing occurring after contacting the credit bureau.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein:

said offering occurs over a communication network connecting the user with a server; and

said providing is performed by the server.

17. A method for providing credit score information for a user to the user, comprising:

offering the user an option to obtain information related to a credit score via a computer networking arrangement;

determining credit score information once the option is selected by the user; and

providing the credit score information determined to the user via the computer networking arrangement.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining comprises contacting a credit bureau with information pertaining to the transaction contemplated to be settled and obtaining credit bureau credit score information, wherein the credit score information comprises credit bureau credit score information.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining comprises computing an estimated credit score improvement without contacting a credit bureau, and wherein the credit score information comprises the estimated credit score improvement.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining comprises:

providing user information to a credit bureau;

providing information regarding a potential transaction resolution to the credit bureau; and

receiving an estimate of an increase in user credit score if the transaction is resolved in a manner as provided to the credit bureau.