Patent ID: 8352366

Claim:
A computerized method for enhancing payment flexibility implementing a computer processor accessing at least one storage medium, the method comprising: receiving payment notification upon payment of a credit bill by an identified customer, the payment notification including a payment amount and a payment date for the identified customer; determining eligibility for flexible payment status implementing the computer processor, the determination based on the customer identity, the payment date, and a payment due date; calculating a flex accrual using the computer processor upon receipt of the payment from the customer when the customer is eligible for flexible payment status, the flex accrual based on the payment amount, the payment date, and the payment due date, wherein the flex accrual occurs only when the payment date is prior to the payment due date; communicating the flex accrual to the customer when the customer is eligible for flexible payment status; and allowing the identified customer to utilize the flex accrual by making a subsequent late payment in response to a subsequent credit bill without penalty when the customer is eligible for flexible payment status, wherein a number of days late and dollars paid are determined based on the flex accrual.