Patent ID: 7398248

Claim:
A computer implemented method comprising the steps of: storing a CID on a card; activating, in a computer system of a third party, a consumer account associated with said card; providing, in said computer system of said third party, said consumer account with an initial credit; identifying, in a retail store computer system, said CID in a purchase transaction in a retail store associated with said retail store computer system; debiting, in said retail store computer system, said consumer account by the amount of said purchase transaction; determining, in said retail store computer system, conditions for future credits associated with said CID; storing, in said retail store computer system, said conditions in an account associated with said CID; crediting, in said retail store computer system, said consumer account, when said conditions are satisfied; selling said card by said third party to a consumer at a card sale price; and crediting, in said computer system of said third party, a retail store account of said retail store by an amount less than said initial credit when said computer system of said third party activates said account.