Method and system for transacting an anonymous purchase over the internet
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A method of transacting a purchase, comprising:
- distributing a plurality of unfunded purchase cards from a purchase card provider to a plurality of purchase card outlets, wherein each of the purchase cards is a bearer instrument having an associated account number issued by a major branded credit card organization, an expiration date and a non-personalized cardholder name selected by the purchase card provider printed thereon, wherein the purchase card does not include information identifying the specific perspective cardholder, wherein information associated with each of the purchase card accounts is maintained in a software implemented application operated by the purchase card provider;
issuing a purchase card to a cardholder at the a purchase card outlet;
contacting the purchase card provider to fund and activate the purchase card account of specific purchase card issued with a software implemented application or via the telephone; and
transacting a cardholder purchase at any one of a number of retailers not associated with the purchase card outlet which accepts credit cards of the major branded credit card organization, wherein the cardholder presents the purchase card and the retailer contacts the purchase card provider over a network connection to interface with the software implemented application transmitting the purchase amount and the purchase card account number without requiring the retailer to collect and transmit personalized cardholder identifying information, to verify using the software implemented retail application that the purchase card is unexpired and that the purchase amount does not exceed the cardholder'"'"'s funding limit, whereupon the purchase card account information will be debited by the amount of the purchase and the account of the retailer will be electronically credited completing the purchase transaction.
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Abstract
A method is provided for transacting a purchase using a non-personalized purchase card which is distributed to a number of purchase card outlet each purchase card being a bearer instrument having a non-personalized card holder name without any perspective card holder data thereon. The card is sold at the purchase card outlet and the purchase cardholder can use the card to make a purchase at an unrelated retailer with the transaction cleared over a network connection using a software implemented application that transmits the card issuer without transmitting any user specific information.
53 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of transacting a purchase, comprising:
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distributing a plurality of unfunded purchase cards from a purchase card provider to a plurality of purchase card outlets, wherein each of the purchase cards is a bearer instrument having an associated account number issued by a major branded credit card organization, an expiration date and a non-personalized cardholder name selected by the purchase card provider printed thereon, wherein the purchase card does not include information identifying the specific perspective cardholder, wherein information associated with each of the purchase card accounts is maintained in a software implemented application operated by the purchase card provider; issuing a purchase card to a cardholder at the a purchase card outlet; contacting the purchase card provider to fund and activate the purchase card account of specific purchase card issued with a software implemented application or via the telephone; and transacting a cardholder purchase at any one of a number of retailers not associated with the purchase card outlet which accepts credit cards of the major branded credit card organization, wherein the cardholder presents the purchase card and the retailer contacts the purchase card provider over a network connection to interface with the software implemented application transmitting the purchase amount and the purchase card account number without requiring the retailer to collect and transmit personalized cardholder identifying information, to verify using the software implemented retail application that the purchase card is unexpired and that the purchase amount does not exceed the cardholder'"'"'s funding limit, whereupon the purchase card account information will be debited by the amount of the purchase and the account of the retailer will be electronically credited completing the purchase transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of transacting a purchase, comprising:
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distributing a plurality of unfunded purchase cards from a purchase card provider to a plurality of purchase card outlets, wherein each of the purchase cards is a bearer instrument having an associated account number issued by a major branded credit card organization, an expiration date, contact information for the purchase card provider and a printed non-personalized cardholder name located on the card, but, does not include the identity of the perspective cardholder, wherein information associated with each of the purchase card accounts is maintained in a software implemented application operated by the purchase card provider; selling a purchase card to a cardholder at a retail purchase card outlet without requiring the cardholder paying in cash to provide any personal identifying information, wherein the purchase card account has an initial funded value and contacting the purchase card provider to fund the specific purchase card sold; transacting a cardholder purchase at any one of a number of retailers not associated with the purchase card outlet which accepts credit cards of the major branded credit card organization, wherein the cardholder presents the purchase card and the retailer contacts the purchase card provider over a network connection using a retailer software application which communicates with the purchase card provide'"'"'s software implemented application transmitting the purchase amount and the purchase card account number without requiring the cardholder to collect and provide personal cardholder identifying information, so that the retailer can verify that the purchase card is active, not expired and that the purchase does not exceed the cardholder'"'"'s funding limit, whereupon the purchase card account is debited by the amount of the purchase, and an account of the retailer is electronically credited the purchase amount less a processing fee completing the purchase transaction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification