Patent ID: 7130828

Claim:
A method for using a stored value card having associated card identification data comprising the following steps: issuing the card; purchasing the card by a purchaser, in any denomination having cash value, the purchasing step being performed during a card purchase transaction; selecting an identifier by the purchaser, wherein the identifier is to be subsequently used with the card to verify an authorized user of the card; activating the card after the selecting step by transmitting over a network to a card processing center the identifier and the card identification data, and wherein the name of the authorized user is imprinted on the card before the card is issued; wherein the identifier, the card identification data, and a card value amount are stored in a separate and independent card account accessible by the card processing center, and wherein the card is available for use after the activating step is performed, and wherein the card is reloaded upon receiving a request from the authorized user to add funds to the separate and independent card account after the activation step is performed.