Patent ID: 8600876

Claim:
An apparatus for facilitating payment by a customer of a past-due amount associated with an account, comprising: a network interface configured to receive data from and communicate data to a remote electronic device associated with a customer; and a processor coupled to the network interface, the processor configured to: communicate to the remote electronic device, via the network interface, an electronic query regarding whether the customer is willing to pay at least a portion of a past-due amount associated with an account, the electronic query comprising at least the past-due amount, a balance associated with the account, and an identifier associated with the account; receive from the remote electronic device, via the network interface, a response to the query, the response indicating that the customer is unwilling to pay at least a portion of the past-due amount; and in response to the response indicating that the customer is unwilling to pay at least a portion of the past-due amount: receive customer information associated with the customer, the customer information comprising at least a credit score associated with the customer and an employment history associated with the customer; determine, based at least upon the credit score and the employment history, whether the customer is eligible for a payment program for the account; and in response to determining that the customer is eligible for a payment program: communicate to the remote electronic device, via the network interface, terms and conditions associated with a payment program agreement, the terms and conditions comprising at least a new payment amount, wherein the new payment amount is less than the balance associated with the account; and communicate to the remote electronic device, via the network interface, an electronic form for entry of information related to payment in accordance with the payment program agreement.