Abstract: A bill pay system wherein participating consumers pay bills to participating billers through a payment network operating according to preset rules. The participating consumers receive bills from participating billers (paper/mail bills, e-mail notices, implied bills for automatic debts) which indicate an amount, and a unique biller identification number. To authorize a remittance, a consumer transmits to its bank (a participating bank) a bill pay order indicating a payment date, a payment amount, the consumer's account number with the biller, a source of funds and the biller's biller identification number, either directly or by reference to static data containing those data elements. Bank C then submits a payment message to a payment network, and the payment network, which assigns the biller reference numbers, forwards the payment message to the biller's bank.

Abstract: A method for electronically paying a bill is described in which a bill pay order is forwarded to a first processor. The bill pay order includes information identifying a biller, an amount owed, and a consumer-biller account number. The method determines whether the consumer has sufficient funds to cover the amount owed, and compares the information identifying the biller to a local biller file to determine a biller financial institution identification number for a financial institution designated to receive funds for the biller. A payment message is then generated which includes information identifying the biller, the amount owed, the consumer-biller account number, and the biller financial institution identification number. The payment message is then forwarded to a network if the consumer has sufficient funds. The payment message is routed to the appropriate biller financial institution over the network using the biller financial institution identification number.

Abstract: A bill pay system wherein participating consumers pay bills to participating billers through a payment network operating according to preset rules. The participating consumers receive bills from participating billers (paper/mail bills, e-mail notices, implied bills for automatic debts) which indicate an amount, and a unique biller identification number. To authorize a remittance, a consumer transmits to its bank (a participating bank) a bill pay order indicating a payment date, a payment amount, the consumer's account number with the biller, a source of funds and the biller's biller identification number, either directly or by reference to static data containing those data elements. Bank C then submits a payment message to a payment network, and the payment network, which assigns the biller reference numbers, forwards the payment message to the biller's bank.