Abstract: A technique for making a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor is provided. A payment service provider receives a payment request from a payor requesting the service provider to make a payment to a payee on behalf of the payor. The service provider then transmits pre-posting information to the payee prior to making the payment. The pre-posting information informs the payee that the service provider will be making a payment to the payee on behalf of the payor. Whenever the service provider makes the payment to the payee, the service provider also issues remittance advice associated with the payment to the payee.

Abstract: Payments on behalf of a plurality of payors to a plurality of payees are facilitated using respective first data associated with each payor and respective second data associated with each of those payees payable by crediting via electronic funds transfer (EFT), such as by ACH transfer. The respective first data associated with each payor includes payee identity information for each payee designated by that payor, and could for example take the form of a payee list for that payor. The respective second data associated with each payee payable by crediting via EFT includes payment information identifying a deposit account of that payee. Information identifying a first of the payees and a deposit account of the first payee is received by a payment service provider. The first payee is not currently one of those payees associated with respective second data, when this information is received.

Abstract: A technique for identifying electronic billers of a consumer whose bills are available by electronic presentment is provided. A request to identify electronic billers of the consumer is received. This request includes information that identifies the consumer, but excludes any information identifying any biller, electronic or not, of the consumer. From this information that does not identify any biller of the consumer, one more candidate electronic billers of the consumer are identified. Then, a positive determination is made that at least one of these candidate electronic billers is definitely an electronic biller of the consumer. Thus, electronic billers of the consumer are identified without the consumer identifying any biller.

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: Systems and methods for processing subscriber and payee information include storing information identifying a first subscriber of an electronic payment service, and receiving information identifying an intended payee from a second subscriber. A determination is then made that the first subscriber and the intended payee of the second subscriber are the same entity. Such a determination may be confirmed and/or verified in a variety of ways. If confirmed, a payment may be made on behalf of the second subscriber to the first subscriber, now identified as a payee.

Abstract: To make a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor, the payment service provider receives, via a network, a first payment request to make a first payment to a payee on behalf of a first payor and a second payment request to make a second payment to the payee on behalf of a second payor. The first request has first identity information identifying the payee and the second request has second identity information identifying the payee. The payment service provider accesses first data associated with the first payor to identify a first unique payee identifier associated with the payee based on the first payee identity information and second data associated with the second payor to identify a different second unique payee identifier associated with the payee based on the second payee identity information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for authenticating a customer association with a particular deposit account used when conducting financial transactions on behalf of the customer. The system receives identity information and routing and transit number or account number (RTN/DDA) information, where at least a portion of identity information identifies an account holder and at least a portion of the RTN/DDA information identifies a deposit account. A selection of numerous databases used to authenticate an association between the deposit account and the account holder is made based on one or more criteria. A database is then accessed according to the selection; and an association between the deposit account and the account holder is authenticated using the received identity information and RTN/DDA information and the selected database.

Abstract: A technique for confirming an association between a deposit account and an account holder is provided. The technique includes receiving information identifying the deposit account and identifying the account holder. Other information associated with multiple deposit accounts, each maintained at one of multiple financial institutions, is accessed. The received information and the accessed information are then processed to authenticate the association between the account holder and the deposit account.

Abstract: Payments on behalf of a plurality of payors to a plurality of payees are facilitated using respective first data associated with each payor and respective second data associated with each of those payees payable by crediting via electronic funds transfer (EFT), such as by ACH transfer. The respective first data associated with each payor includes payee identity information for each payee designated by that payor, and could for example take the form of a payee list for that payor. The respective second data associated with each payee payable by crediting via EFT includes payment information identifying a deposit account of that payee. Information identifying a first of the payees and a deposit account of the first payee is received by a payment service provider. The first payee is not currently one of those payees associated with respective second data, when this information is received.

Abstract: The payment service provider receives a request to make a payment to a payee on behalf of the payor, via a wide area network. The payment service provider first determines whether or not first payee identity information for the payee to be paid pursuant to the received request, which is included in first data associated with the payor, has an associated indicator indicating that the payee to be paid is payable by crediting that payee via electronic funds transfer. If not, the payment service provider next determines whether or not respective second payee identity information, which is included in second data associated with multiple payees and identifies each of the multiple payees payable on behalf of multiple payors by crediting that payee via electronic funds transfer, identifies the payee to be paid.

Abstract: A technique for identifying electronic billers of a consumer whose bills are available by electronic presentment is provided. A request to identify electronic billers of the consumer is received. This request includes information that identifies the consumer, but excludes any information identifying any biller, electronic or not, of the consumer. From this information that does not identify any biller of the consumer, one more candidate electronic billers of the consumer are identified. Then, a positive determination is made that at least one of these candidate electronic billers is definitely an electronic biller of the consumer. Thus, electronic billers of the consumer are identified without the consumer identifying any biller.

Abstract: A technique for identifying payees to be paid by an electronic commerce service provider on behalf of each of a plurality of consumers is provided. A first consumer transmits information identifying himself or herself. A second consumer also transmits information identifying himself or herself. The information identifying the first consumer and the information identifying the second consumer each lack any information identifying any payee. The first consumer receives information identifying a first potential payee from the electronic commerce service provider. The second consumer receives information identifying a second potential payee from the electronic commerce service provider. The second consumer does not receive information identifying the first potential payee. The first consumer has never before identified the first potential payee to the electronic commerce service provider, and the second consumer has never before identified the second potential payee to the electronic commerce service provider.

Abstract: A technique for identifying a payees and billers to be paid by an electronic commerce service provider on behalf of a consumer is provided. An electronic commerce service provider receives information identifying a consumer. The consumer identifying information does not identify any payee or biller. The electronic commerce service provider identifies one or more candidate payees by accessing at least one of credit report information, geographic information, industry classification information, and socio-demographic information. The service provider then presents identified candidate payees to the consumer.

Abstract: A technique for making a payment to a payee for a payor is provided. The technique includes receiving a request from the payor to make a payment to the payee. A determination is made that the payee is not capable of receiving electronic payments. A paper payment is made to the payee instead of an electronic payment. An invitation for the payee to receive electronic payments from the payor is generated and delivered to the payee.

Abstract: A technique for accessing a database which identifies payees who receive electronic payments is provided. The technique includes receiving information which identifies a payee and then identifying a unique payee identifier based upon that received information. The unique identifier is an identifier that is assigned to the payee only after the payee has requested to receive electronic payments. The request is a response to an invitation to receive electronic payments. The invitation is associated with a paper payment made to the payee. Utilizing this unique payee identifier, information related to the payee stored in the database is accessed.

Abstract: A technique for confirming an association between a deposit account and an account holder is provided. The technique includes receiving information identifying the deposit account and identifying the account holder. Other information associated with multiple deposit accounts, each maintained at one of multiple financial institutions, is accessed. The received information and the accessed information are then processed to authenticate the association between the account holder and the deposit account.

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.

Abstract: A system and method for processing electronic payment requests. A request to make a payment for a network user is received over a network. The request includes information identifying the network user. All user identifiers associated with the network user are determined. Then, information about previous payments made for the network user is processed. This information about previous payments is based upon the determined identifiers. This processing determines if the request will be honored. A notification of the decision to honor or not to honor the request is then transmitted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid container containing a plurality of enclosed cells formed between at least a first layer and a second layer of polymeric material. Each enclosed cell contains essentially less than about 2 fluid ounces of an aqueous-based solid or liquid. Preferably, each enclosed cell contains less than about 1 fluid ounce of an aqueous-based solid or liquid. In a further aspect, the first layer and second layer of polymeric materials are perforated to allow separation of an individual enclosed cell from the remainder of the plurality of enclosed cells.