Patent ID: 7747524

Claim:
A system for operating a discount debit card plan for processing of an eCard holder transaction by using a discount plan provider system responsive to a merchant's eCard holder related transaction data, crediting the merchant with the transaction amount reduced by a merchant discount and debiting the eCard holder with the transaction amount reduced by an eCard holder discount, and crediting the difference between the merchant discount and the card holder discount as at least one fee to the discount debit card plan provider or its affiliates, comprising, a discount debit plan provider terminal containing data indicative of a discount debit card plan for use by participating merchants and for application to transactions with a discount debit plan provider's authorized eCard; a participating merchant terminal with merchant identifying data; said discount debit plan provider eCard with eCard data, including eCard holder identifying data; a telecommunications network connecting said discount debit plan provider terminal and said merchant terminal for transmitting data between said terminals; said merchant terminal responsive to said eCard data and to transaction data related to a transaction made between said participating merchant and said eCard holder for transmitting said transaction data to said discount debit plan provider's terminal; said discount debit plan provider's terminal responsive to said transaction data for crediting said merchant's account with a merchant's discounted amount represented by said full transaction amount reduced by said participating merchant's discount and debiting said eCard holder's account with a eCard holder's discounted amount represented by said transaction amount reduced by said eCard holder's discount.