Patent ID: 6988085

Claim:
A computer-based system for a client to communicate with a credit bureau, the system comprising: (a) a client terminal having a web browser for: entering and displaying in HTML format a credit inquiry pertaining to a client customer and receiving a response to the credit inquiry from the credit bureau, or entering and displaying in HTML format a credit report about the client customer, the client terminal being operated by the client; (b) a central processing unit (CPU) functioning as a web server, the CPU having and executing a common gateway interface (CGI) application program for directing the operations of the CPU and controlling the formatting and transmitting of the credit inquiry and credit bureau response between the client terminal and the credit bureau; (c) a first communications link for connecting the client terminal to the CPU, thereby facilitating the transfer of the credit inquiry or the credit report from the client terminal to the CPU, and the transfer of the credit bureau response from the CPU to the client terminal, the first communications link comprising the Internet; and (d) a second communications link for connecting the CPU to the credit bureau, thereby facilitating the transfer of the credit inquiry from the CPU to the credit bureau, and the transfer of the credit bureau response from the credit bureau to the CPU, the second communications link comprising a dedicated line; whereby the format of the credit bureau response is converted and displayed to the client in HTML format, providing credit information to the client in a format that is more easily read and understood than the format provided by the credit bureau; whereby the client is able to send credit information about a client customer electronically to the service provider, the service provider then forwarding the credit information to the credit bureau, providing the ability for the client to generate the credit report on-line for submission to the credit bureau; and whereby the client is able to enter the credit report in the web browser of the client terminal in HTML format, rather than using the format required by the credit bureau, providing easier and better understood entry of the credit information.