Patent ID: 7107243
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of bill payment service for a customer, comprising: receiving identification information for the customer by a retail system application in response to an automatic prompt of the customer by the retail system application; automatically verifying the identification information by the retail system application and handing off the customer and the identification information to a bill payment application; receiving a customer selection of one of a touch tone mode and a voice mode of communication in response to an automatic prompt by the bill payment application; receiving a customer selection of a bill payment option from a group of bill payment options consisting of a recurring bill payment option, an add or change payee for bill payment option, a single bill payment option, and a status, change or cancel bill payment option, in response to an automatic prompt by the bill payment application; automatically, non-optionally handing off the customer to a customer service representative by the bill payment application for a non-automated verification of the customer's identification by the customer service representative at a telephone as a security measure, if the customer selection is received for one of the recurring bill payment option and the add or change payee for bill payment option; receiving a customer selection of an option to designate a payee from one of a customer-specific payee identification list of the customer and a common payee list provided by the bill payment application, in response to an automatic prompt by the bill payment application; receiving a customer selection of an option to designate the payee by one of entering a payee ID by the customer from the customer-specific payee identification list and selecting the payee from the customer-specific payee identification list spoken by the bill payment application, if the option to designate the payee from the customer-specific payee identification list is received; receiving information about a payment amount for at least one bill payment for the customer by the bill payment application in response to an automatic prompt by the bill payment application; receiving information about a payment date for the bill payment by the bill payment application in response to an automatic prompt by the bill payment application; automatically scheduling the bill payment by the bill payment application for the customer according to the bill payment information; receiving a confirmation of the payee, the payment amount, and the payment date for the scheduled bill payment by the bill payment application in response to an automatic prompt by the bill payment application; and rendering the scheduled bill payment to the payee by the bill payment application for the customer by one of a check and an electronic transfer of funds to the designated payee on the payment date indicated by the customer.