Patent ID: 8660521

Claim:
A method, for adhoc provisioning of an equipment insurance policy to a postpaid customer using a communications network, comprising: receiving, from the postpaid customer, a request for the equipment insurance policy; determining that a cost for the equipment insurance policy is to be billed; performing payment processing in connection with the equipment insurance policy requested, the payment processing comprising: determining whether the customer is authorized for billing in connection with the request for the equipment insurance policy; if it is determined that the postpaid customer is not authorized for billing: sending a first warning message to the postpaid customer; requesting payment from an account; determining if funds are available in the account to debit a cost of the equipment insurance policy; sending, if funds are not available, a second warning message to the customer; deducting, from the account, if funds are available, a payment for the cost of the equipment insurance policy; and updating a balance of the account; and billing the postpaid customer if it is determined, in connection with the request for the equipment insurance policy, that the postpaid customer is authorized for billing; sending, to a network node, in response to the payment being obtained or billed appropriately, an authorization authorizing the network node to put the equipment insurance policy into effect according to a parameter including an expiration date of the policy; maintaining the equipment insurance policy in effect during a policy period to end at the expiration date of the policy; and storing, in a database, the parameter, associated with the equipment insurance policy put into effect, including the expiration date of the policy.