Method and apparatus for monitoring credit reports using a computing system implemented financial management system

• US 7,844,520 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Franklin, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer; James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gottschalk; Martin A
• Application Number:
  US11/444,553
• Time in Patent Office: 1,644 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/38, 705/39, 707 1- 6
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• 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 and apparatus for monitoring credit reports using a computing system implemented financial management system includes a process for monitoring credit reports whereby data representing various credit accounts is obtained and categorized by a computing system implemented financial management system. This computing system implemented financial management system data is then stored. A credit report is then obtained and credit report data representing the various credit account information contained in the credit report is obtained and stored. Then, the computing system implemented financial management system data and credit report data are compared and any discrepancies between the two credit data sources is brought to the attention of the user and/or included in a credit discrepancy report which is then provided to the user.

Claims

1. A computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports comprising:

obtaining electronic transaction data associated with a given user from two or more sources of electronic transaction data using a computing system implemented financial management system, the electronic transaction data including electronic transaction data associated with at least one credit account and electronic transaction data associated with at least one account other than a credit account, the computing system implemented financial management system having the capability to categorize the electronic transaction data as income or expense electronic transaction data and to associate the electronic transaction data with one or more events;

storing the electronic transaction data obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system;

obtaining credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account from a credit report;

storing the credit report credit account data;

analyzing the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account;

detecting a transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account;

alerting the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account; and

alerting a financial institution maintaining the at least one credit account of the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account.

2. The computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of claim 1, wherein:

the computing system implemented financial management system is a computing system implemented personal financial management system.

3. The computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of claim 1, wherein:

alerting the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account comprises generating a discrepancy report and providing the discrepancy report to the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports.

4. The computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account.

5. The computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of claim 4, wherein:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account comprises providing the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports access to instructions for resolving the transaction discrepancy.

6. The computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of claim 4, wherein:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account comprises providing the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports access to one or more forms required for resolving the transaction discrepancy.

7. A computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports comprising:

obtaining electronic account data associated with a given user from two or more sources of electronic account data using a computing system implemented financial management system, the electronic account data including electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user and electronic account data associated with at least one account other than a credit account associated with the given user, the computing system implemented financial management system having the capability to categorize electronic transaction data as income or expense electronic transaction data and to associate the electronic transaction data with one or more events;

storing the electronic account data obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system;

obtaining credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user from a credit report;

storing the credit report credit account data;

analyzing the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user;

detecting an account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user;

alerting the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user; and

alerting at least one financial institution maintaining at least one credit account associated with the given user of the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user.

8. The computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of claim 7, wherein:

the computing system implemented financial management system is a computing system implemented personal financial management system.

9. The computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of claim 7, wherein:

alerting the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user comprises generating a discrepancy report and providing the discrepancy report to the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports.

10. The computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of claim 7, further comprising:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user.

11. The computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of claim 10, wherein:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user comprises providing the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports access to instructions for resolving the account discrepancy.

12. The computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of claim 10, wherein:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user comprises providing the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports access to one or more forms required for resolving the account discrepancy.

13. A system for monitoring credit reports comprising:

a computing system; and

a processor executing at least part of a process for monitoring credit reports, the process for monitoring credit reports comprising;

obtaining electronic transaction data associated with a given user from two or more sources of electronic transaction data using a computing system implemented financial management system, the electronic transaction data including electronic transaction data associated with at least one credit account and electronic transaction data associated with at least one account other than a credit account, the computing system implemented financial management system having the capability to categorize the electronic transaction data as income or expense electronic transaction data and to associate the electronic transaction data with one or more events;

storing the electronic transaction data obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system;

obtaining credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account from a credit report;

storing the credit report credit account data;

analyzing the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account;

detecting a transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account;

alerting the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account; and

alerting a financial institution maintaining the at least one credit account of the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account.

14. The system for monitoring credit reports of claim 13, wherein:

the computing system implemented financial management system is a computing system implemented personal financial management system.

15. The system for monitoring credit reports of claim 13, wherein:

alerting the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account comprises generating a discrepancy report and providing the discrepancy report to the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports.

16. The system for monitoring credit reports of claim 13, further comprising:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account.

17. The system for monitoring credit reports of claim 16, wherein:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account comprises providing the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports access to instructions for resolving the transaction discrepancy.

18. The system for monitoring credit reports of claim 16, wherein:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account comprises providing the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports access to one or more forms required for resolving the transaction discrepancy.

19. A system for monitoring credit reports comprising:

a computing system; and

a processor executing at least part of a process for monitoring credit reports, the process for monitoring credit reports comprising;

obtaining electronic account data associated with a given user from two or more sources of electronic account data using a computing system implemented financial management system, the electronic account data including electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user and electronic account data associated with at least one account other than a credit account associated with the given user, the computing system implemented financial management system having the capability to categorize electronic transaction data as income or expense electronic transaction data and to associate the electronic transaction data with one or more events;

storing the electronic account data obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system;

obtaining credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user from a credit report;

storing the credit report credit account data;

analyzing the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user;

detecting an account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user;

alerting the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user; and

alerting at least one financial institution maintaining at least one credit account associated with the given user of the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user.

20. The system for monitoring credit reports of claim 19, wherein:

the computing system implemented financial management system is a computing system implemented personal financial management system.

21. The system for monitoring credit reports of claim 19, wherein:

alerting the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user comprises generating a discrepancy report and providing the discrepancy report to the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports.

22. The system for monitoring credit reports of claim 19, further comprising:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user.

23. The system for monitoring credit reports of claim 22, wherein:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user comprises providing the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports access to instructions for resolving the account discrepancy.

24. The system for monitoring credit reports of claim 22, wherein:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user comprises providing the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports access to one or more forms required for resolving the account discrepancy.

25. A computer program product for monitoring credit reports comprising:

a computer readable medium;

and computer program code, encoded on the computer readable medium, comprising computer readable instructions executed on a processor for;

obtaining electronic transaction data associated with a given user from two or more sources of electronic transaction data using a computing system implemented financial management system, the electronic transaction data including electronic transaction data associated with at least one credit account and electronic transaction data associated with at least one account other than a credit account, the computing system implemented financial management system having the capability to categorize the electronic transaction data as income or expense electronic transaction data and to associate the electronic transaction data with one or more events;

storing the electronic transaction data obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system;

obtaining credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account from a credit report;

storing the credit report credit account data;

analyzing the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account;

detecting a transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account;

alerting the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account; and

alerting a financial institution maintaining the at least one credit account of the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account.

26. The computer program product for monitoring credit reports of claim 25, wherein:

the computing system implemented financial management system is a computing system implemented personal financial management system.

27. The computer program product for monitoring credit reports of claim 25, wherein:

alerting the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account comprises generating a discrepancy report and providing the discrepancy report to the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports.

28. The computer program product for monitoring credit reports of claim 25, further comprising:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account.

29. The computer program product for monitoring credit reports of claim 28, wherein:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account comprises providing the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports access to instructions for resolving the transaction discrepancy.

30. The computer program product for monitoring credit reports of claim 28, wherein:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the transaction discrepancy between the electronic transaction data associated with the at least one credit account obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for the at least one credit account comprises providing the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports access to one or more forms required for resolving the transaction discrepancy.

31. A computer program product for monitoring credit reports comprising:

a computer readable medium;

and computer program code, encoded on the computer readable medium, comprising computer readable instructions executed on a processor for;

obtaining electronic account data associated with a given user from two or more sources of electronic account data using a computing system implemented financial management system, the electronic account data including electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user and electronic account data associated with at least one account other than a credit account associated with the given user, the computing system implemented financial management system having the capability to categorize electronic transaction data as income or expense electronic transaction data and to associate the electronic transaction data with one or more events;

storing the electronic account data obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system;

obtaining credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user from a credit report;

storing the credit report credit account data;

analyzing the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user;

detecting an account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user;

alerting the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user; and

alerting at least one financial institution maintaining at least one credit account associated with the given user of the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user.

32. The computer program product for monitoring credit reports of claim 31, wherein:

the computing system implemented financial management system is a computing system implemented personal financial management system.

33. The computer program product for monitoring credit reports of claim 31, wherein:

alerting the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports of the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user comprises generating a discrepancy report and providing the discrepancy report to the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports.

34. The computer program product for monitoring credit reports of claim 31, further comprising:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user.

35. The computer program product for monitoring credit reports of claim 34, wherein:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user comprises providing the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports access to instructions for resolving the account discrepancy.

36. The computer program product for monitoring credit reports of claim 34, wherein:

providing the given user access to one or more resources to resolve the account discrepancy between the electronic account data associated with at least one credit account associated with the given user obtained using the computing system implemented financial management system and the credit report credit account data for at least one credit account associated with the given user comprises providing the given user of the computing system implemented process for monitoring credit reports access to one or more forms required for resolving the account discrepancy.