System and method for identifying an alternative provider of telecommunications services

Abstract

A method for selecting a service provider includes receiving a selection of a provider of telecommunications services, the selection being associated with a buyer. The method further includes determining that the buyer does not meet credit requirements of the provider and selecting at least one of a plurality of alternative providers of telecommunications services in response to determining that the buyer does not meet the credit requirements of the provider.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A system for tracking the relative credit difficulty of providers of telecommunications services, the system comprising:
 a server in communication with one or more clients over a network, wherein the server performs a method stored in a storage medium and executed by one or more processors comprising:   receiving a selection of a provider of telecommunications services, the selection being associated with a buyer;   placing an order associated with the provider in response to such selection;   receiving a reply associated with the provider in response to placing the order, the reply indicating the buyer does not meet credit requirements of the provider; and   adjusting a relative credit difficulty rating of the provider in response to the reply.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein at least one additional order is placed with an alternative provider and the relative credit difficulty rating of the provider is adjusted in further response to a reply received associated with the alternative provider. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the relative credit difficulty rating of the provider is adjusted in further response to profile information associated with the buyer. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the relative credit difficulty rating of the provider is adjusted in further response to additional replies associated with the provider and further associated with additional buyers. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , and further comprising:
 receiving a second selection of a second provider of telecommunications services, the selection being associated with a second buyer;   placing a second order associated with the second provider in response to the second selection;   receiving a second reply associated with the second provider indicating the second buyer does not meet credit requirements of the second provider; and   placing a third order associated with the provider and further associated with the second buyer in response to the second reply and the relative credit difficulty rating of the provider.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the third order is placed without receiving an approval of the provider from the second buyer.