System and method for prepay account management system

A prepay account management system in use with a post-pay billing system, the prepay account management system comprising:

• a prepay customer database operable to store the prepay customer account balance, prepayment, preferences and estimated usage data of the prepay customer,
• a data link operable to transmit a prepay customer account balance, prepayment, preferences and actual usage data of a prepay customer between the prepay account management system and the post-pay billing system, wherein the actual usage data of the prepay customer is extracted from the post-pay billing system;
• a prepay server operable to:
• receive the transmitted prepay customer account balance, prepayment, preferences and actual usage data, the prepay server having at least one interface that is operable to receive replenishing payment amounts;
• update a current balance of a prepay customer account in response to the estimated usage data and the replenishing payment amounts;
• and
• reconcile a balance of a prepay customer account with the actual usage data of the prepay customer extracted from the post-pay billing system by comparing the estimated usage data with the actual usage data.

An apparatus comprising:

• a tangible computer-readable storage structure storing a computer program that includes a plurality of computer instructions executable by a processor, the plurality of computer instructions including:
• instructions for receiving prepay customer account data including actual utility usage amount for a prepay customer from a customer account database of a post-pay billing system;
• instructions for storing the prepay customer account data in a prepay account database;
• instructions for receiving a payment amount for utility services corresponding to a prepay customer;
• instructions for updating a prepay customer account balance in the prepay account database, in response to the payment amount;
• instructions for receiving an estimated utility usage amount for a prepay customer;
• instructions for updating the prepay customer account balance in the prepay account database in response to the estimated utility usage amount;
• instructions for reconciling the prepay customer account balance in the prepay account database with the actual utility usage amount of the prepay customer extracted from the post-pay billing system by comparing the estimated utility usage amount with the actual utility usage amount;
• and
• instructions for notifying the prepay customer in response to predetermined triggers associated with the prepay customer account.

A prepay account management system for use with a legacy post-pay billing system, the legacy post-pay billing system having a customer account database operable to store customer account data the system, and the prepay account management system comprising:

• a prepay account database operable to store prepay customer account data;
• a secure data link operable to transmit a prepay customer account data and usage charges of a prepay customer between the prepay account management system and the legacy post-pay billing system;
• a prepay server operable to:
• receive the transmitted prepay customer account data, the prepay server having at least one interface that is operable to receive a replenishing payment amount;
• update in the prepay account database a balance of a prepay customer account in response to the usage charges and the replenishing payment amount;
• reconcile a balance of a prepay customer account with the legacy post-pay billing system;
• and
• a notification server operable to deliver a notification to the prepay customer in response to specific triggers associated with the prepay customer account according to prepay customer preferences.