Patent ID: 7011246

Claim:
A portable card reader device that is carried by a home delivery contractor responsible for delivering a merchandise that is addressed to a consumer residing in a certain designated delivery area, for settling a cost for the merchandise by using a settlement card, the portable card reader device comprising: a storing unit configured to store a plurality of credit inquiry information of a plurality of consumers residing within the certain designated delivery area and a plurality of freight information related to a plurality of merchandisers that deliver within the certain designated delivery area; a reading unit configured to read a card information stored in the settlement card that is used by the consumer for settlement upon delivery of the merchandise to the consumer; an input unit configured to input a payment method for the merchandise; a credit inquiry processing unit configured to perform credit inquiry processes of the settlement card based on the credit inquiry information of the plurality of consumers stored in the storing unit and based on the card information read by the reading unit; and a control unit configured to control the storing unit, reading unit, input unit, and credit inquiry processing unit, wherein: the freight information includes a cost information of the merchandise and an invoice number of an invoice which is attached to the merchandise; and the control unit retrieves the freight information which coincides with the card information read by the reading unit when the result of the credit inquiry processes is valid and thereafter performs, when the freight information that coincides with the card information read by the reading unit exists, settlement based on the cost information, generates a settlement information related to the merchandise that has been settled based on the card information, the invoice number, and the cost information, and the control unit controls thereafter the settlement information to be stored in the storing unit.