Patent ID: 8290863

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 and payment data from the customer at a remote location via the network, wherein the recipient data comprises a recipient identifier and the payment data comprises a delivery time designated by the customer; obtaining, at a payment module using at least the programmed computer processor, a stored value card via the network; 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 delivers the stored value card to a recipient identified by the recipient data and by the delivery time entered by the customer, wherein the stored value card is delivered to the recipient on the same day that the customer enters the recipient data and payment data; 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.