Bill payment and reporting

• US 9,443,268 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consumerinfo.com Incorporated (Experian plc)
• Original Assignee: Consumerinfo.com Incorporated (Experian plc)
• Inventors: Kapczynski, Mark Joseph, Dean, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Eric T
• Application Number:
  US14/164,561
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 705/40
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

A system for processing bill payments from a consumer to one or more creditors may provide the consumer with a credit report and options to make payments on tradelines present on the credit report. The system may also report the payment information to one or more credit bureaus. Additionally, the system may automatically identify the consumer'"'"'s accounts, enroll the consumer in online bill payment with creditors, provide account alerts, recommend payments, provide access to electronic statements, and/or provide contextual action buttons for the consumer'"'"'s accounts.

Claims

1. A computing system for managing user credit information to expedite improvement in a user'"'"'s credit score, the computer system comprising:

a server computing system having;

one or more hardware computer processors;

one or more storage devices configured to store software instructions configured for execution by the one or more hardware computer processors, the software instructions comprising;

a user interface module;

a bill payment module;

a payment reporting module;

an account validation module; and

an alert module; and

a user computing device configured to communicate with the server computing system via the user interface module;

wherein the server computing system executes the software instructions to cause the server computing system to;

access credit data of a user from one or more credit bureaus;

automatically identify a plurality of accounts associated with respective creditors included in the credit data of the user;

generate, via the user interface module, credit report user interface data configured for presentation to a user in a credit report user interface rendered on the user computing device operated by the user, the credit report user interface indicating;

account information for the plurality of accounts based on the accessed credit data;

a credit score for the user based on the accessed credit data;

an account balance for the plurality of accounts based on the accessed credit data;

information regarding an expected numerical adjustment in the credit score if a first payment isn'"'"'t made on time to a first creditor associated with a first account of the plurality of accounts, the account information being presented to the user via the user interface module based on expected impact of the plurality of accounts on the user'"'"'s credit score, wherein the information is displayed on the user computing device within one or more screens to include at least;

an indication of the first account;

a first payment due on the first account;

an indication of the expected numerical adjustment in the credit score;

a first payment button associated with the first account, wherein the first payment button is configured to enable the user to initiate the first payment to the first creditor associated with the first account and reporting of the first payment to one or more credit bureaus;

a first payment amount interface configured to receive a first payment amount for payment to the first creditor;

a first payment source selection interface configured to receive information from the user regarding a first payment account of the user from which the first payment to the first creditor is to be drawn;

a second payment button associated with a second account of the plurality of accounts, wherein the second payment button is configured to enable the user to initiate a second payment to a second creditor associated with the second account and reporting of the second payment to one or more credit bureaus, wherein the first creditor and the second creditor are not affiliated;

a second payment amount interface configured to receive a second payment amount for payment to the second creditor; and

a second payment source selection interface configured to receive information from the user regarding a second payment account of the user from which the second payment to the second creditor is to be drawn;

transmit the credit report user interface data to the user computing device, wherein the user computing device is configured to render the credit report user interface on a display of the user computing device;

in response to the user selecting the first payment button of the credit report user interface rendered on the user computing device;

receive via the user interface module a first payment instruction from the user indicating at least the first payment amount and the first payment account;

transmit the first payment instruction from the user interface module to the bill payment module;

initiate, via the bill payment module, transfer of the first payment amount from the first payment account of the user to the first creditor; and

confirm, via the account validation module, receipt of the first payment by the first creditor;

in response to the user selecting the second payment button of the credit report user interface rendered on the user computing device;

receive via the user interface module a second payment instruction from the user indicating at least the second payment amount and the second payment account;

transmit the second payment instruction from the user interface module to the bill payment module;

initiate, via the bill payment module, transfer of the second payment amount from the second payment account of the user to the second creditor;

confirm, via the account validation module, receipt of the second payment by the second creditor; and

transmit payment data indicating confirmation of receipt of the first payment by the first creditor and confirmation of receipt of the second payment by the second creditor from the bill payment module to the payment recording module;

generate via the payment reporting module substantially concurrently with transmitting the first and second payment instructions, aggregated payment data comprising at least the first payment instruction, wherein the first payment instruction is associated with the first creditor and the second payment instruction, wherein the second payment instruction is associated with the second creditor;

transmit via the payment reporting module the aggregated payment data including details of the first payment and details of the second payment to one or more credit bureaus before the first and second creditors report the respective first and second payments to the one or more credit bureaus;

communicate the aggregated payment data from the payment reporting module to the alert module;

generate an alert via the alert module to be displayed on the user computing device;

cause transmission via the alert module and the user interface module of the alert over a wireless communication channel to the user computing device, wherein the alert activates an application on the user computing device to cause details indicating that payment data indicating confirmation of receipt of the first payment by the first creditor and confirmation of receipt of the second payment by the second creditor have been provided to one or more credit bureaus to display, and wherein the alert enables connection to the server computing system; and

display, on the user computing device, an actual impact on the user'"'"'s credit score of completion of the first payment and the second payment.

2. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the server computing system executes the software instructions to further cause the server computing system to provides an indication to the first creditor that the first payment was reported to the one or more credit bureaus.

3. The computing system of claim 1, wherein account information comprises balance, credit limit, and/or credit utilization.

4. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the software instructions are further configured to cause the server computing system to:

determine third account information for a third account of the user with a third creditor, wherein the third creditor does not report payments on user accounts to a credit bureau; and

include in the generated credit report user interface the third account information for the third creditor that does not report to a credit bureau.

5. The computing system of claim 4, wherein the software instructions are further configured to cause the server computing system to:

initiate a third payment to the third account which does not report payments on user accounts to a credit bureau; and

report the third payment to one or more credit bureaus.

6. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the software instructions are further configured to cause the server computing system to:

access, from the first creditor, a first statement associated with the first account, wherein the first statement shows a balance of an account of the user with the first creditor;

wherein the credit report user interface is further configured to display the first statement.

7. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the software instructions are further configured to cause the server computing system to:

determine one or more accounts in which the user is not enrolled in a bill payment service of the plurality of accounts; and

enroll the user in the bill payment service for the determined one or more accounts.

8. The computing system of claim 7, wherein enrolling the user is in response to the user providing authorization or is automatically performed by the server computing system.

9. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the software instructions are further configured to cause the server computing system to:

determine a account type of a third account of the plurality of accounts;

determine one or more actions available to the user with reference to the third account based on the determined account type; and

update the credit report user interface to include an action button indicating one or more of the determined actions;

wherein the one or more of the determined actions are selected from viewing account statements, ordering a credit report, refinancing a loan, applying for a new credit card, comparing credit cards, or enrolling in a creditor'"'"'s online services.

10. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the software instructions are further configured to cause the server computing system to receive funds deposited by the user.

11. The computing system of claim 10, wherein initiating the first payment comprises providing the first payment amount to the first creditor identified in the first payment instruction from the deposited funds.

12. The computing system of claim 1, wherein generating the credit report user interface further comprises:

determining a recommended payment amount for the first account;

wherein the credit report user interface further includes the recommended payment amount associated with the first account.

13. The computing system of claim 12, wherein the recommended payment amount is determined based on at least one of goals or priorities of the user, available funds of the user, the amount due on accounts of the user, the balance remaining on each account, interest rates on each account, or the impact a payment has on the user'"'"'s credit score.

14. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the application on the user computing device is a mobile application.

15. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the server computing system is further configured to:

determine an account status of the third account, wherein the one or more actions available to the user are further determined based on the account status.

16. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the server computing system executes the software instructions to further cause the server computing system to provide a user interface including:

a new credit card option configured to initiate application by the user for a new credit card such that the first payment account is the new credit card.

17. A method for managing user credit information, the method comprising:

by a computing system having one or more hardware computer processors;

accessing credit data of a user from one or more credit bureaus;

determining a plurality of user accounts including one or more reporting accounts and one or more non-reporting accounts, said determining comprising;

determining the one or more reporting accounts of the user with respective creditors based on the credit data of the user; and

determining one or more non-reporting accounts of the user with respective creditors that do not report payments to the one or more credit bureaus;

determining an unenrolled subset of the plurality of user accounts in which the user is not enrolled in a bill payment service with the corresponding creditor;

enrolling the user in bill payment services of each of the determined unenrolled user accounts;

determining whether payment is due on a first reporting account of the plurality of user accounts;

in response to determining that payment is due on the first reporting account;

determine a first recommended payment amount associated with the first reporting account;

determine an expected numerical decrease in a credit score of the user if the first recommended payment is not made on time to a first creditor associated with the first reporting account;

determining whether payment is due on a second non-reporting account of the plurality of user accounts;

in response to determining that payment is due on the second non-reporting account;

determine a second recommended payment amount associated with the second non-reporting account;

determining a priority order for the plurality of user accounts based at least on impact of respective user accounts on the credit score of the user;

generating credit report user interface data configured for rendering on a user computing device indicating;

in the determined priority order for the plurality of user accounts, account information for each of the one or more reporting accounts of the user based on the accessed credit data and the one or more non-reporting accounts of the user, wherein each account information includes respective balance, credit limit, and/or credit utilization for the corresponding user account;

the credit score for the user based on the accessed credit data;

a first payment amount interface configured to receive a first payment amount for payment to the first creditor;

a first payment source selection interface configured to receive information from the user regarding a first payment account of the user from which the first payment to the first creditor is to be drawn;

a first payment button associated with the first reporting account, wherein the first payment button is configured to enable the user to initiate a payment to the first creditor associated with the first reporting account and reporting of the first payment to one or more credit bureaus;

a first action button indicating one or more actions determined based on a type and/or status of the first reporting account, the one or more actions including one or more of viewing account statements, ordering a credit report, refinancing a loan, applying for a new credit card, comparing credit cards, or enrolling in a creditor'"'"'s online services;

a second payment button associated with the second non-reporting account of the user, wherein the second payment button is configured to enable the user to initiate a second payment to a second creditor associated with the second non-reporting account and reporting of the second payment to one or more credit bureaus, wherein the first creditor and the second creditor are not affiliated;

a second payment amount interface configured to receive a second payment amount for a second payment to the second creditor;

a second payment source selection interface configured to receive information from the user regarding a second payment account of the user from which the second payment to the second creditor is to be drawn;

a second action button indicating one or more actions determined based on the type and/or status of the second non-reporting account, the one or more actions including one or more of viewing account statements, ordering a credit report, refinancing a loan, applying for a new credit card, comparing credit cards, or enrolling in a creditor'"'"'s online services;

transmitting the credit report user interface to the user computing device, wherein the user computing device is configured to render the credit report user interface data on a display of the user computing device;

receiving a first payment instruction from the user indicating at least the first payment amount and the first payment account, wherein the first payment instruction is transmitted from the user computing device in response to the user selecting the first payment button; and

initiating transfer of the first payment amount from the first payment account of the user to the first creditor;

receiving a second payment instruction from the user indicating at least the second payment amount and the second payment account, wherein the second payment instruction is transmitted from the user computing device in response to the user selecting the second payment button; and

initiating transfer of the second payment amount from the second payment account of the user to the second creditor;

generating aggregated payment data comprising at least the first payment instruction and the second payment instruction, wherein the first payment instruction is associated with the first creditor and the second payment instruction is associated with the second creditor;

providing the aggregated payment data including details of the first payment and details of the second payment to one or more credit bureaus before the first and second creditors report the payments to the one or more credit bureaus;

providing an indication to the first creditor that the first payment was reported to one or more credit bureaus;

providing an indication to the second creditor that the second payment was reported to one or more credit bureaus;

generating an alert to be displayed on the user computing;

causing transmission of the alert to the user computing device, wherein the alert activates an application on the user computing device to cause details indicating that details of the first and second payments have been provided to one or more credit bureaus to display, and wherein the alert enables connection to the computing system; and

updating the credit report user interface to include an updated credit score for the user calculated in consideration of the first payment and the second payment.