Abstract: Systems and methods for making a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee are provided. A request to make a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee is received at a first payment service provider. The first payment service provider supports a first payment network within a plurality of payment networks that each include a respective plurality of payers and payees. The payer is one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network, and the payor is not one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network. A second payment network within the plurality of payment networks with which the payee is associated is identified by the first payment service provider. A payment instruction to make the payment to the payee is transmitted by the first payment service provider to a second payment service provider associated with the second payment network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electronic billing activation are provided. A request on behalf of a payer to activate electronic billing from a biller for the payer is received by a first electronic financial service provider (EFSP) that supports a first of a plurality of electronic financial service networks (EFSNs) from a second EFSP that supports a second of the plurality of EFSNs. Each of the plurality of EFSNs includes a respective plurality of billers or payers, and the biller is associated with the first EFSN and not associated with the second EFSN, while the payer is not associated with the first EFSN. In response to the received request, activation confirmation information is transmitted by the first EFSP to the second EFSP. The electronic billing activation enables subsequent electronic transmission of a bill from the biller for the payer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee are provided. A request to make a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee is received at a first payment service provider. The first payment service provider supports a first payment network within a plurality of payment networks that each include a respective plurality of payers and payees. The payer is one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network, and the payor is not one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network. A second payment network within the plurality of payment networks with which the payee is associated is identified by the first payment service provider. A payment instruction to make the payment to the payee is transmitted by the first payment service provider to a second payment service provider associated with the second payment network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee are provided. A request to make a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee is received at a first payment service provider. The first payment service provider supports a first payment network within a plurality of payment networks that each include a respective plurality of payers and payees. The payer is one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network, and the payor is not one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network. A second payment network within the plurality of payment networks with which the payee is associated is identified by the first payment service provider. A payment instruction to make the payment to the payee is transmitted by the first payment service provider to a second payment service provider associated with the second payment network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and article of manufacture for providing payment services on a network. Information identifying a network user is received. The network user is assigned a payer status. A request to make a payment to a payee on behalf of the network user is received. If a first payer status is assigned to the network user, the payment will be made no matter the identity of the payee. If a second payer status is assigned to the network user, the payment will only be made if the payee is one of a group of payees that is not determined by the network user. With the second payer status, the network user can only direct payments to the group of payees. The payer status can be changed from one payer status to another payer status.

Abstract: A method and system for electronic billing across unassociated electronic bill presentment networks is provided. Each network includes a billing service provider. A request to receive an electronic bill from a biller not associated with a first network is received by a first billing service provider. A request to determine a network with which the biller is associated is transmitted by the first billing service provider. In response to this determination request, information indicating that the biller is associated with a second network is received. An activation instruction to receive electronic bills is transmitted from the first billing service provider to a second billing service provider which is a part of the network with which the biller is associated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee are provided. A request to make a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee is received at a first payment service provider. The first payment service provider supports a first payment network within a plurality of payment networks that each include a respective plurality of payers and payees. The payer is one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network, and the payor is not one of the plurality of payers and payees associated with the first payment network. A second payment network within the plurality of payment networks with which the payee is associated is identified by the first payment service provider. A payment instruction to make the payment to the payee is transmitted by the first payment service provider to a second payment service provider associated with the second payment network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electronic billing activation are provided. A request on behalf of a payer to activate electronic billing from a biller for the payer is received by a first electronic financial service provider (EFSP) that supports a first of a plurality of electronic financial service networks (EFSNs) from a second EFSP that supports a second of the plurality of EFSNs. Each of the plurality of EFSNs includes a respective plurality of billers or payers, and the biller is associated with the first EFSN and not associated with the second EFSN, while the payer is not associated with the first EFSN. In response to the received request, activation confirmation information is transmitted by the first EFSP to the second EFSP. The electronic billing activation enables subsequent electronic transmission of a bill from the biller for the payer.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for making a monetary gift. The system includes a communications port, a memory, and a processor. The processor functions to perform the method of the present invention. A request to make a monetary gift to a recipient on behalf of a donor is received. An input associated with an electronic greeting card is also received. The request and the input are processed to generate the electronic greeting card with a notification of the gift. The electronic greeting card is transmitted to the recipient, and the gift is credited to the recipient's bank account.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining hold periods based upon risk analysis. The systems and methods may include receiving, via a network, a payment request to make a payment on behalf of a payor to a payee and directing a debit in an amount associated with the payment request from an account associated with the payor at a first time. The systems and methods may further include determining a hold period based upon a risk analysis of the payor, and directing a credit in the amount of the payment to the payee a second time, where the hold period determines a time period between the first time and the second time.

Abstract: A payment service provider receives a request to pay a payee on behalf of a payor and determines, responsive to the received request, that the payee will not accept the requested payment via a charge to a credit card account of the payor with a credit card issuer. The payor wishes to fund the requested payment from the credit card account. Accordingly, the payment service provider transmits, to the credit card issuer, account information identifying the credit card account and payment information representing the requested payment for inclusion in a credit card statement of the credit card issuer to the payor for the credit card account. However, the payment service provider directs the requested payment to the payee on behalf of the payor from a payment account other than the credit card account.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for making inter-network payments. A payment request to make a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee is received. A first payment service provider receives this request. The payment is directed to a payee that is associated with a second payment service provider. The first payment service provider determines the identity of the second payment service provider and transmits a payment instruction to the second payment service provider to complete the payment.

Abstract: A payment service provider can direct a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor having a credit card issued by a credit card issuer, even if the payee does not accept the payor credit card for payment. The service provider receives a request to direct a payment to a payee on behalf of the payor. Payment information associated with the received payment request is transmitted from the service provider to the credit card issuer via other than a credit card network. The payment information includes information identifying at least a payment amount and an account identifier associated with the payor credit card. The service provider receives, via other than a credit card network, funds from the credit card issuer responsive to the transmitted payment information, and directs delivery of funds in the identified payment amount to the payee to complete the payment on behalf of the payor.

Abstract: A method for conducting cashless transactions, includes receiving, at a first network device associated with a seller, information identifying a product intended to be purchased at a purchase price by a purchaser. The purchase price is to be paid through a transfer to the seller of funds deposited in or credited to an account of the purchaser. The identity of the account having the funds is and remains unknown to the seller. The authorization of the purchaser to pay the purchase price for the identified product through the transfer to the seller of the funds in the account is transmitted to a second network device associated with the financial institute at which the account is maintained. A determination is made as to whether or not the funds are sufficient with respect to the purchase price. If so, the authorization of the financial institute for the seller to proceed with delivery of the identified product is transmitted from the second network device to the first network device.

Abstract: A method for conducting cashless transactions, includes receiving, at a first network device associated with a seller, information identifying a product intended to be purchased at a purchase price by a purchaser. The purchase price is to be paid through a transfer to the seller of funds deposited in or credited to an account of the purchaser. The identity of the account having the funds is and remains unknown to the seller. The authorization of the purchaser to pay the purchase price for the identified product through the transfer to the seller of the funds in the account is transmitted to a second network device associated with the financial institute at which the account is maintained. A determination is made as to whether or not the funds are sufficient with respect to the purchase price. If so, the authorization of the financial institute for the seller to proceed with delivery of the identified product is transmitted from the second network device to the first network device.

Abstract: To electronically present and pay bills, bill information representing a plurality of bills of a plurality of billers for a plurality of payors is transmitted to the plurality of payors. The transmitted bill information includes first information representing a first of the plurality of bills of a first of the plurality of billers for a first of the plurality of payors. A payment instruction from the first payor to pay the first bill, based on the transmitted first information, is received. A risk associated with payment of the first bill is determined and a debit type is selected based upon the determined risk. A payment of the first bill to the first biller is initiated based on the received payment instruction and to the selected debit type.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for making inter-network payments. A payment request to make a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee is received. A first payment service provider receives this request. The payment is directed to a payee that is associated with a second payment service provider. The first payment service provider determines the identity of the second payment service provider and transmits a payment instruction to the second payment service provider to complete the payment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for making inter-network payments. A payment request to make a payment on behalf of a payer to a payee is received. A first payment service provider receives this request. The payment is directed to a payee that is associated with a second payment service provider. The first payment service provider determines the identity of the second payment service provider and transmits a payment instruction to the second payment service provider to complete the payment.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture for integrated event tracking of an electronic escrow transaction. An instruction is received from a purchaser, via a network, to effect an electronic escrow transaction. The electronic funds escrow transaction arises out of a sale between a purchaser and a seller for goods or services purchased via a network. To effect the electronic escrow transaction, network communications are directed with each of the seller, the purchaser, and a financial institution. Each of these communications associated with effecting the electronic escrow transaction is stored in a memory.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture for making payments on a network by a payment service provider. The service provider receives information identifying both a network user and the network user's bank account, and a request to make a payment on behalf of the network user. This information is processed for verification. A unique user identifier is also generated. The information and the unique user identifier are stored together.