Abstract: A transaction management system (10) for managing transactions associated with a plurality of clients is disclosed. The transaction management system (10) comprises a client database (32) arranged to store transaction data associated with a plurality of clients. The transaction data includes creditor data indicative of outstanding creditor amounts, each creditor amount representing a monetary amount owed by a client to a creditor. The system also comprises a transaction manager device (24) arranged to facilitate access to the creditor data by the clients and to instigate payment to a creditor of a creditor amount in response to authorization by the client. The system (10) is arranged to enable electronic communications between the transaction manager device (24) and at least one remote client terminal (14) so that a client associated with the remote client terminal is able to access creditor data and authorize payment of a creditor from a remote location. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A client-driven method of effecting payment for goods and/or services to be performed by a single entity, the method comprising the steps of: agreeing with a supplier terms of supply for the supply of goods and/or services; receiving details of an order for goods and/or services from a first purchaser placed with the supplier; receiving details of an order for goods and/or services from a second purchaser placed with the supplier; drawing on a credit facility of the first purchaser and a credit facility of the second purchaser; and paying the supplier for supplying the goods and/or services ordered by the first purchaser and second purchaser in accordance with the terms of supply using money drawn from the respective credit facilities of the first purchaser and second purchaser.