Method and apparatus to extend grace period for utility payments by prepaid device-holders
AssigneeMastercard International Incorporated
InventorDer Pei Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for determining whether to extend a grace period to a consumer instead of cancelling their services are described. The system/method accesses payroll card and/or other information pertaining to the consumer's financial and/or employment status and history. Using the information, a score may be determined and used to assess whether to grant the consumer an extension to a grace period and/or to continue access to a utility/service.
Claims18
A computer implemented method of determining whether to grant a consumer continuation of a utility, the method comprising the steps of:
- accessing, using the computer, a payroll device account of the consumer;
- determining, using the computer system, a score relating to the consumer's reliability to pay an expenditure relating to continuation of the utility;
- assessing, using the computer system, whether the consumer is qualified for continuation of the utility, based on the score;
- and
- providing an indication of at least one of the consumer is qualified for continuation of the utility or the consumer is not qualified for continuation of the utility.
A system comprising:
- a memory;
- at least one processor operatively coupled to the memory;
- and
- a persistent storage device operatively coupled to the memory and storing in a non-transitory manner instructions which when loaded into the memory cause the at least one processor to be operative to:
- access a payroll device account of a consumer;
- determine a score relating to the consumer's reliability to pay an expenditure relating to continuation of a utility;
- assess whether the consumer is qualified for continuation of the utility, based on the score;
- and
- provide an indication of at least one of the consumer is qualified for continuation of the utility or the consumer is not qualified for continuation of the utility.
A computer system configured to determine whether to grant a consumer continuation of a utility, the computer system comprising:
- processor means for accessing a payroll card account of the consumer;
- processor means for determining a score used in determining whether the consumer is qualified for continuation of the utility, based on the score;
- processor means for providing an indication of at least one of the consumer is qualified for continuation of the utility or the consumer is not qualified for continuation of the utility;
- and
- processor means for generating a notice to the consumer indicating whether the consumer is or is not qualified for continuation of the utility.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.