Customer Activated Multi-Value (CAM) Card

Abstract

The Customer Activated Multi-Value (CAM) card provides a customer with a primary use as a transaction card which can be further activated to have a secondary use as a credit card. The CAM card can be activated as a transaction card or as a transaction card with a credit card feature. Activation of the CAM card as a transaction card allows the customer to purchase goods and services from one specific vendor and to establish a relationship with that vendor for the goods or services rendered (for example, telephone calling card or gasoline product purchasing card) while enjoying reward benefits based on those purchases. Activation of the credit feature of the card allows the customer to interact with any merchant that accepts traditional credit cards such as VISA®, MASTERCARD®, AMERICAN EXPRESS®, or DISCOVER®. The combination of features allows a customer to purchase various goods and services from several different merchants. If the customer chooses to activate the CAM card as both a transaction card and a credit card, the customer is given the benefit of using the card in both manners described above.

1 . A method for issuing a Customer Activated Multi-Value (CAM) card, comprising: 
 receiving information regarding an applicant; and    assigning a credit line to a CAM card for said applicant, said CAM card being associated with a first merchant, said credit line including a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being available only for use in transactions involving said first merchant and said applicant, and said second portion being available for use in transactions involving merchants other than said first merchant.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transactions include allowing for the purchase of the item from only the first merchant.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transactions include the purchase of phone service.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transactions include the purchase of gas.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transactions include the purchase of an item from a catalog.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transactions include the purchase of an item from a department store.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transactions include the applicant accruing at least one of reward points and reward offers with use of the CAM card.  
     
     
         8 . A method for issuing a Customer Activated Multi-Value (CAM) card, comprising: 
 receiving an application for a CAM card, said application being associated with an applicant;    associating a credit line with said CAM card, said credit line including a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being available only for use in transactions involving a first merchant and said applicant, and said second portion being available for use in transactions involving merchants other than said first merchant;    associating an identifier with said CAM card, said identifier being capable of identifying said CAM card as a private label card associated with said first merchant when said card identifier is used in a first transaction involving said first merchant and of identifying said CAM card as a bank card when said card identifier is used in a transaction involving a second merchant, and said identifier being capable of indicating that said first transaction should be processed via a private label network and of indicating that said second transaction should be processed via a bank card network issuing said CAM card to said applicant.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one or the first and second transactions includes the purchase of phone service.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one or the first and second transactions includes the purchase of gas.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one or the first and second transactions includes the purchase of an item from a catalog.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one or the first and second transactions includes the purchase of an item from a department store.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the wherein at least one or the first and second transactions includes the applicant accruing at least one of reward points and reward offers with use of the CAM card.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the bankcard network includes one or more of a network for a VISA® card, MASTERCARD® card, AMERICAN EXPRESS® card and a DISCOVER® card.