ONLINE REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR CROA-COMPLIANT CREDIT ADVICE SERVICES

• US 20120095894A1
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• 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 method of registering a consumer for credit repair counseling, the method comprising:

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

determining a state of residence of the consumer;

providing to a 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 available dates and times for a first counseling session of the consumer with a credit repair counselor, wherein the available dates are after the greater of a federally mandated minimum delay period and any state mandated minimum delay period of the determined state of residence;

transmitting to the consumer computing device or a network resource available to the consumer, electronic copies of the terms and conditions of the credit repair counseling.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

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

4. The 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 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 method of claim 1, wherein the state of residence is provided by the consumer.

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

8. The method of claim 1, 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 provide via a single electronic signature or a selection of a single user interface element.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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.

10. The 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.

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

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

13. The method of claim 12, wherein at least some of the terms and conditions are based on credit repair laws or regulations of the determined state of residence.

14. 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 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 available dates and times for a first counseling session of the consumer with a credit repair counselor, wherein the available dates are after the greater of a federally mandated minimum delay period and any state mandated minimum delay period of the determined state of residence;

transmit to the consumer computing device or a network resource available to the consumer, electronic copies of the terms and conditions of the credit repair counseling.

15. The computing system of claim 14, wherein said transmitting further comprises transmitting electronic cancellation forms usable by the consumer to cancel credit repair counseling.

16. The computing system of claim 15, 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.

17. The computing system of claim 16, 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.

18. A 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;

providing to a 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 available dates and times for a first counseling session of the consumer with a credit repair counselor, wherein the available dates are after the greater of a federally mandated minimum delay period and any state mandated minimum delay period of the determined state of residence;

transmitting to the consumer computing device or a network resource available to the consumer, electronic copies of the terms and conditions of the credit repair counseling.

19. The 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.

20. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 19, 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.