Patent ID: 8290862

Claim:
A computer implemented method for expediting payments, wherein the method is executed by a programmed computer processor which communicates with a customer via a network, the computer implemented method comprising the steps of: receiving, at an information module using at least the programmed computer processor, recipient data, delivery data, and payment data from the customer at a remote location via the network, wherein the recipient data comprises a recipient identifier, the delivery data comprises a delivery date and time designated by the customer, and payment data comprises a payment type designated by the customer; obtaining, at a payment module using at least the programmed computer processor, a stored value card via the network based at least in part on the payment data including the type designated by the customer; debiting, at the payment module using at least the programmed computer processor, an amount of the stored value card from an account identified by the customer; and delivering, by a delivery module using at least the programmed computer processor, the stored value card to a facility via the network, wherein the facility is a delivery facility and wherein the delivery facility delivers the stored value card based on the delivery data to a recipient identified by the recipient data entered by the customer; wherein the recipient data and payment data are entered by the customer on a first day and the stored value card is delivered to the recipient at least one day after the first day; and wherein the recipient provides authentication data before the stored value card is activated, wherein the authentication data is provided to a service provider associated with the stored value card, wherein the stored value card is activated for a designated value after authentication data from the recipient is verified.