Patent ID: 8082195

Claim:
A refundable prepaid transaction card system, comprising: a prepaid transaction card, wherein the prepaid transaction card is funded with funds by a purchaser; an issuer, wherein the issuer receives funds funded by the purchaser and distributes a prepaid transaction card associated with the funds; a prepaid transaction card identifier, wherein the prepaid transaction card identifier identifies the prepaid transaction card and is provided to the purchaser; a central computer system, wherein: the central computer system is maintained by the issuer, stores at least one parameter set by the purchaser as to how the prepaid transaction card may be used, and a user satisfying a parameter of the at least one parameter entitles the purchaser to a refund of at least a portion of the funds funded by the purchaser, the purchaser and the user being different persons; and a cash pool, wherein the cash pool includes at least a portion of the funds funded by the purchaser to the prepaid transaction card and wherein a record of a plurality of purchasers and funds funded by the plurality of purchasers is stored at the central computer system.