Scored negative file system and method

Abstract

System and method for validating a payment. The method can include obtaining a first account identifier, accessing a database containing a plurality of risk scores, each one of the plurality of risk scores being associated with one of a plurality of account identifiers, obtaining a first risk score from the plurality of risk scores, the first risk score being associated with the first account identifier, and determining an acceptance decision by comparing the first risk score against a risk threshold value.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of adjusting a risk score for a financial account, the method comprising:
 obtaining a plurality of characteristics regarding the financial account;   applying the plurality of characteristics to a decision tree to determine a first risk score;   storing the risk score and an identifier for the financial account in a storage location;   reviewing the plurality of characteristics when at least one of the plurality of characteristics changes;   re-applying the plurality of characteristics to the decision tree to determine a second risk score; and   updating the first risk score with the second risk score.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of characteristics includes a number of returned payments. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of characteristics includes a number of cleared payments. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of characteristics includes an account balance. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of characteristics includes a date of last activity. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of characteristics includes a time duration for a returned payment. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , and further comprising assigning one of thirty possible risk scores. 
     
     
         21 . A method of adjusting a risk threshold value for the acceptance of unfinanced payments, the method comprising:
 choosing a risk threshold value;   receiving a plurality of payments;   obtaining a risk score for each one of the plurality of payments;   determining an acceptance decision for each one of the plurality of payments by comparing the risk score for each one of the plurality of payments against the risk threshold value; and   adjusting the risk threshold value in order to adjust the risk level for the acceptance of unfinanced payments.   
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising accepting a first quantity of the plurality of payments in which the risk score is less than the risk threshold value. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising recording the acceptance decision for each one of the plurality of payments. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising declining a second quantity of the plurality of payments in which the risk score is greater than the risk threshold value. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , further comprising recording a third quantity of payments that are unfinanced. 
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein adjusting the risk threshold value in order to adjust the risk level for the acceptance of unfinanced payments includes evaluating the first quantity of payments, the second quantity of payments, and the third quantity of payments. 
     
     
         27 . A system for assigning a risk score to a financial account, the system comprising:
 an account information application configured to store characteristics regarding the financial account; and   a scoring application configured to obtain the characteristics, determine a risk score for the financial account, and store the risk score and an identifier of the financial account in a storage location.   
     
     
         28 . The system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the scoring application is further configured to request characteristics regarding the financial account from the account information application. 
     
     
         29 . The system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the account information application is further configured to transmit the characteristics to the scoring application. 
     
     
         30 . The system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the scoring application is further configured to store the characteristics in the storage location. 
     
     
         31 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A computer readable medium containing instructions for adjusting a risk threshold value, the instructions comprising:
 setting a first risk threshold value;   obtaining a plurality of financial account identifiers for a plurality of payments associated with a plurality of transactions;   obtaining a risk score for each of the plurality of financial account identifiers;   determining an acceptance decision for each risk score by comparing each risk score against the first risk threshold value;   recording each acceptance decision and each associated transaction;   evaluating the acceptance decisions and the associated transactions; and   setting a second risk threshold value based on the accepted decisions and the associated transactions.   
     
     
         48 . The computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising instructions for recording a plurality of transactions associated with unfinanced payments. 
     
     
         49 . A scored negative file configured to provide information regarding the activity of a financial account in order to validate a payment, the file comprising:
 a plurality of financial account identifiers, wherein each financial account identifier includes a risk score specifying a predicted level of risk that an unfinanced payment will result for a particular financial account.   
     
     
         50 . The scored negative file as claimed in  claim 49 , further comprising a plurality of characteristics for each one of the plurality of financial account identifiers. 
     
     
         51 . The scored negative file as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the plurality of characteristics define financial account activity. 
     
     
         52 . The scored negative file as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the characteristics are used to generate the risk score.