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 preexisting financial obligation owed by a user to a party implemented on a computing system, the method comprising:
 causing a server configured to 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 including information about the user's current financial condition from at least one financial credit information service such as a credit bureau;   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; and   causing the server to present an offer set to the user based on at least one decision made by the rules based engine, the 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 the user to settle the preexisting financial obligation by modifying existing terms of the preexisting financial obligation using terms of one individually selectable monetary offer selected by the user.   
     
     
         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 preexisting financial obligation implemented on a computing system, the method comprising:
 causing a server configured to provide a user with an amount of money currently owed by the user to a party;   causing the server to seek available financial information including information about the user's current financial condition from a source external to the user and the server, and when financial information is available about the user's current financial condition, receiving the available financial information at the server;   processing available financial information at the server using rules established on behalf of the party; and   causing the server to present a transaction resolution offer set to the user, the 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 preexisting financial obligation by modifying existing terms of the preexisting financial obligation using terms of one individually selectable monetary offer selected by the user.   
     
     
         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 preexisting financial obligation of a user to a party implemented on a computing system, the method comprising:
 causing a server configured to 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 including information about the user's current financial condition from a financial credit information service such as a credit bureau, and when financial information is available, receiving the financial information at the server;   processing the financial information at the server using rules established on behalf of the party; and   causing the server to provide a transaction offer set to the user, the 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 preexisting financial obligation by modifying existing terms of the preexisting financial obligation using terms of the individually selectable monetary offer selected by the user.   
     
     
         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.