Patent ID: 8706559

Claim:
A computer-based method for issuing and activating a contactless transaction card using a server system coupled to a database, the server system in communication with a client computer system, said method comprising: providing a promotional transaction card to a consumer, the promotional card including a proof of purchase identifier, the promotional transaction card not linked to an account usable for a financial transaction, the proof of purchase identifier indicating a proof of purchase of the promotional card; receiving, at the server system, a request message from the client computer system for ordering a contactless transaction card for the consumer, the request message including the proof of purchase identifier and consumer registration data; validating the request message; issuing an inactive contactless transaction card to the consumer including a product identifier and an activation number associated with the contactless transaction card, the inactive contactless transaction card is associated with an existing transaction card account of the consumer and is a different card than the promotional transaction card; storing the product identifier and the activation number in the database; receiving, at the server system, the product identifier and the activation number from the client computer system for the inactive contactless transaction card; and activating the inactive contactless transaction card after the server system verifies that the received product identifier and activation number match the stored product identifier and activation number.