System and Method for Debt Presentment and Resolution

Abstract

A system and method for debt presentment and resolution through an Intranet or Internet content provider is disclosed. Said system and method include a plurality of “transaction communities” which are electronic forums allowing interaction between a plurality of debtors and creditors through means of electronic mail (e-mail) or other electronic communication means. The Internet/Intranet based software application allows said debtors to access and input information related to a particular debt with any Internet browser software. Said debtors are provided with the URL (Universal Resource Locator) for said content provider along with a unique identification code from the collection agency(s) through mail correspondence or other communication means. Upon said user entering said URL and entering said identification code, said user may then proceed to choose from a variety of settlement options listed on the HTML (HyperText Markup Language) page.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for settling a transaction comprising a preexisting financial obligation owed by a user to a party to the preexisting financial obligation, comprising:
 enabling the user to contact the server, wherein the server is configured to authenticate an identity of the user and provide preexisting financial obligation information to the user, including an amount of money currently owed by the user to the party to the preexisting financial obligation;   causing the server to seek available financial information pertinent to an ability of the user to satisfy the financial obligation from at least one credit bureau responsive to the user contact;   parsing the available financial information to extract data identified as pertinent to the party to the preexisting financial obligation in accordance with a rules based engine including rules established on behalf of the party to the preexisting financial obligation;   processing data from the available financial information at the server using a rules based engine including rules established on behalf of the party to the preexisting financial obligation located at the server; and   causing the server to present an individualized offer set to the user based on at least one decision made by the rules based engine, the individualized offer set comprising at least one individually selectable monetary offer selectable by the user including at least one decisioned monetary settlement term determined based on the rules established on behalf of the party to the preexisting financial obligation and available financial information, each individually selectable monetary offer selectable by a user to settle the transaction;   wherein the server requires no debt recovery product be accepted by the user to settle the transaction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user comprises a debtor and the transaction comprises a debt owed by the debtor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user contacts the server using one from a group comprising a personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless telephone, telephone, smart phone, tablet computing device, handheld PC, digital camera configured to receive and transmit data, and receiving/transmitting hardware configured to effectuate the transaction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the available financial information comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of amount outstanding, user credit rating, existing user debt, and an available user bank balance. 
     
     
         5 . A method of resolving a transaction between a user and a party, the transaction comprising a preexisting financial obligation, the method comprising:
 enabling the user to contact a server, wherein the server is configured to authenticate an identity of the user and provide preexisting financial obligation information to the user, including an amount of money currently owed by the user to the party;   causing the server to seek available financial information regarding ability of the user to satisfy the preexisting financial obligation from a credit bureau responsive to the user contact, and when information is available from the credit bureau regarding the ability of the user to satisfy the preexisting financial obligation, receiving the available financial information at the server;   parsing the available financial information to extract data identified as pertinent to the party to the preexisting financial obligation in accordance with a rules based engine including rules established on behalf of the party to the preexisting financial obligation;   processing available data regarding the preexisting financial obligation including the available financial information at the server using rules established on behalf of the party; and   causing the server to present an individualized transaction resolution offer set to the user based on at least one decision made according to the rules established on behalf of the party, the individualized transaction resolution offer set comprising at least one individually selectable monetary offer including at least one decisioned monetary transaction resolution term based on the rules established on behalf of the party and available financial information, each individually selectable monetary offer selectable by the user to resolve the transaction;   wherein the server requires no debt recovery product be accepted by the user to settle the transaction.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the user comprises a debtor and the transaction comprises a debt owed by the debtor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the user contacts the server using one from a group comprising a personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless telephone, telephone, smart phone, tablet computing device, handheld PC, digital camera configured to receive and transmit data, and receiving/transmitting hardware configured to effectuate the transaction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the available financial information comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of amount outstanding, user credit rating, existing user debt, and an available user bank balance. 
     
     
         9 . A method of settling a transaction between a user and a party, the transaction comprising a preexisting financial obligation, the method comprising:
 enabling the user to contact a server, wherein the server is configured to authenticate an identity of the user and provide preexisting financial obligation information to the user, including an amount of money currently owed by the user to the party;   causing the server to seek financial information pertinent to the user from a credit bureau responsive to the user contact, the financial information comprising an ability of the user to satisfy the transaction, and when financial information is available, receiving the financial information at the server;   parsing the available financial information to extract data identified as pertinent to the party to the preexisting financial obligation in accordance with a rules based engine including rules established on behalf of the party to the preexisting financial obligation;   processing the financial information at the server using rules established on behalf of the party by the server applying rules to the financial information obtained to determine possible settlement conditions specific to the user; and   causing the sever to provide an individualized transaction offer set to the user based on at least one decision made according to the rules established on behalf of the party, the individualized transaction offer set comprising at least one individually selectable monetary offer including at least one decisioned monetary settlement term based on the rules established on behalf of the party and the financial information, each individually selectable monetary offer selectable by the user to resolve the transaction;   wherein the server does not require user acceptance of a debt recovery product to settle the transaction.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user comprises a debtor and the transaction comprises a debt owed by the debtor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user contacts the server using one from a group comprising a personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless telephone, telephone, smart phone, tablet computing device, handheld PC, digital camera configured to receive and transmit data, and receiving/transmitting hardware configured to effectuate the transaction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the available financial information comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of amount outstanding, user credit rating, existing user debt, and an available user bank balance.