Patent ID: 6473500
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: G06Q,G07F,H04M

Abstract:
A method for using a prepaid card having associated card identification data, comprising the following steps:issuing said card without a security code; purchasing said card by a purchaser, in any denomination having cash value, said purchasing step being performed during a card purchase transaction, said card purchase transaction being performed after said issuing step; selecting by said purchaser a personal identification number during said card purchase transaction, wherein said personal identification number is to be used with said card to verify an authorized user of said card when subsequently conducting a card transaction; and activating said card after said selecting step by transmitting over a communications network to a card processing center said personal identification number, said card identification data, and data indicative of said cash value, wherein said personal identification number, said card identification data, and said cash value data are stored in a card account accessible by said card processing center, and wherein said card is available for use after said activating step is performed.