Patent ID: 8738483

Claim:
A method for inviting an entity to open an account at an electronic billing and payment system, the method comprising: receiving, by the electronic billing and payment system and from a first entity, an instruction to invite a second entity to open an account at the electronic billing and payment system, the first entity having an account with the electronic billing and payment system; receiving, by the electronic billing and payment system and from the first entity, a security question and an answer to the security question to accompany the invitation; transmitting, by the electronic billing and payment system and to the second entity, the invitation along with the security question; receiving, by the electronic billing and payment system and from the second entity, an acceptance of the invitation along with an answer to the security question; verifying, by the electronic billing and payment system, the acceptance by comparing the answer received from the second entity to the answer received from the first entity; responsive to the two answers not matching, providing, by the electronic billing and payment system, the answer received from the second entity to the first entity for further verification; and responsive to the two answers matching or to the further verification, determining, by the electronic billing and payment system, the acceptance as verified and opening an account for the second entity.