Intermediary advanced payment processes

A method at an advance payment intermediary, the method comprising:

• receiving from a restaurant point of sale device at an advance payment intermediary that is separate and distinct from the restaurant point of sale device a request for an advanced payment that includes a payment amount, a check number, and a user identifier, wherein the point of sale device does not accept direct advance payments;
• sending from the advance payment intermediary a request for payment authorization to an advance payment processor, the request includes an authorization amount and the user identifier;
• receiving at the advance payment intermediary from the advance payment processor a payment authorization for payment associated with the request;
• sending credit card data to the point of sale device from the advance payment intermediary with the payment amount and the check number;
• and
• settling payment from the advance payment processor for the authorization amount from the with the advance payment processor.

A method at a point of sale device, the method comprising:

• receiving a request for payment using an advance payment associated with a bill at a restaurant for a check amount, the request including a user identifier;
• sending a request for advance payment to an advance payment intermediary with a check amount and the user identifier
• receiving credit card details from the advance payment intermediary for the check amount;
• sending the check amount and the credit card details to a credit card processor;
• and
• receiving an indication from the credit card processor that credit card payment has been authorized.