Abstract: A method and system for providing a consumer comparative pricing data from at least two merchants is discussed. In one aspect of the invention a customer of a merchant queries a database containing time and location specific pricing data for competitors of the first merchant. If the query shows that the customer could have purchased the same item or items for a lower price at a competitor, the first merchant awards the customer an on-line credit that is redeemable at the merchant. In another aspect, a consumer uploads an image of a competitor's receipt. The item specific data on the receipt is converted to UPC codes on an item by item basis. These UPC codes are then compared against the merchant's pricing database and the consumer is provided data set comparing the prices the consumer paid to the prices the consumer would have paid had the consumer shopped at the merchant.

Abstract: In a charitable donation arrangement (300), individual members (302) select (702) a service provider (308) using one interface (202), select (704) a charity (304) using another interface (204), and specify how funds from their payments (214) of recurring bills from the service provider should be redirected (328, 334) to the charity. A personalized member portal (100) in a facilitator website (200) also provides the member in question with a detailed accounting (212) showing the total payments (214) made by the member to the service provider for the subscribed service (338), shows the pool (216) of funds available to be redirected from such payments according to instructions from the member, and shows the amounts (218) of redirected funds already donated to charity instead of being retained or obtained by the service provider as part of the monthly service payment.