Abstract: The present invention relates to payment handling apparatus (10) which is operable to effect payment from a purchaser to a vendor. The payment handling apparatus (10) comprises a purchaser's device running a purchaser program (12) which is operable by the purchaser and a vendor's device running a vendor program (16) which is operable by the vendor. The purchaser's device (12) and the vendor's device (16) are in data communication with each other by way of a communication channel (26). The purchaser program is configured to encrypt a payment message and to convey a payment request to the vendor program by way of the communication channel (26). The payment request comprises the encrypted payment message. The payment handling apparatus is configured to encrypt a confirmation message and to convey a confirmation code to the purchaser program in dependence on receipt of the payment request by the vendor program. The confirmation code comprises the encrypted confirmation message.

Abstract: The present invention relates to payment handling apparatus (10) which is operable to effect payment from a purchaser to a vendor. The payment handling apparatus (10) comprises a purchaser's device running a purchaser program (12) which is operable by the purchaser and a vendor's device running a vendor program (16) which is operable by the vendor. The purchaser's device (12) and the vendor's device (16) are in data communication with each other by way of a communication channel (26). The purchaser program is configured to encrypt a payment message and to convey a payment request to the vendor program by way of the communication channel (26). The payment request comprises the encrypted payment message. The payment handling apparatus is configured to encrypt a confirmation message and to convey a confirmation code to the purchaser program in dependence on receipt of the payment request by the vendor program. The confirmation code comprises the encrypted confirmation message.

Abstract: The present invention relates to payment handling apparatus (10) which is operable to effect payment from a purchaser to a vendor. The payment handling apparatus comprises a purchaser client (12) operable by the purchaser, a vendor client (16) operable by the vendor and a purchaser server (14) which stores bank account information of the purchaser and which is in data communication with the purchaser client. The payment handling apparatus (10) also comprises a vendor server (18) which stores bank account information of the vendor and which is in data communication with the vendor client (16) and the purchaser server (14). The payment handling apparatus (10) is configured such that there is no data communication between the purchaser server (14) and the vendor client (16) and between the vendor server (18) and the purchaser client (12). The purchaser client (12) is operative in dependence on purchaser operation to receive a unique code from the purchaser server 14.