Patent ID: 7092501

Claim:
A method for providing prepaid local telephone services to a subscriber having a telecommunications device connected to a subscriber line and in communication with a telephone network via the subscriber line, the method comprising: establishing a prepaid subscriber account on a prepaid local telephone service database, the prepaid subscriber account comprising subscriber identification informatio and a period of prepaid service; monitoring the period of prepaid service for the prepaid subscriber account at the prepaid local telephone service database without monitoring a duration of individual prepaid telephone calls and without monitoring a dollar value of individual prepaid calls; sending a reminder message to the prepaid subscriber prior to an expiration of the period of prepaid serice; sending a suspend message to the telephone network, the suspend message comprising an instruction to suspend local telephone service for the subscriber and to place the prepaid subscriber account on hold; wherein the prepaid subscriber account is maintained in an inactive state; and monitoring a grace period at the prepaid local telephone service database, the grace period comprising a predetermined length of time measured from when the suspend message is sent, and sending a disconnect message to the local exchange carrier via telephone network after an expiration of the grace period if the subscriber has not renewed the subscriber account for an additional period of service, the disconnect message comprising an instruction to disconnect the subscriber account.