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 implementing a future payment transaction for payments owed, comprising:
 providing a user with an ability to submit a future payment request to a server arrangement, wherein the future payment request comprises a request to pay money ahead of schedule for at least a portion of any scheduled payment selectable by the user representing money owed at a future date, wherein the user is provided with an ability to submit the future payment request for an out-of-sequence scheduled payment using an acceptable set of payment alteration options approved by a party owed money by the user;   processing said future payment request at the server arrangement, wherein the server arrangement is configured to evaluate the future payment request by the user and, when acceptable, provide a decision comprising approval of the future payment request, and when unacceptable, provide the decision comprising denial of the future payment request; presenting the decision to the user; and   offering the user an ability to submit an alternate future payment request according to the acceptable set of payment alteration options when the future payment request is unacceptable, and processing each alternate future payment request at the server arrangement;   wherein processing the future payment request at the server arrangement comprises comparing the future payment request against rules available to the server arrangement established for the party owed money by the user, and when such comparing indicates the future payment request is unacceptable, providing the denial of the future payment request.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processing at the server arrangement comprises determining the acceptability of receiving a future payment from any user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user comprises a debtor and payments owed comprise a debt owed by the debtor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising processing the future payment request according to rules established by a credit entity having rights to the debt. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the rules consider the user's ability to satisfy the future payment request. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising generating and presenting to the user at least one payment option representing an approved future payment transaction. 
     
     
         7 . A method for enabling a future payment transaction, comprising:
 enabling submission of a future payment request to a server arrangement, wherein the future payment request comprises a request to pay money ahead of schedule for at least a portion of any scheduled payment selectable by a user, wherein the user is provided with an ability to submit the future payment request for an out-of-sequence scheduled payment without submitting a corresponding payment request for an in-sequence scheduled payment using an acceptable set of payment alteration options approved by a party owed money by the user;   processing said future payment request at the server arrangement and, when acceptable, providing a decision comprising approval of the future payment request, and when unacceptable, providing the decision comprising denial of the future payment request;   presenting the decision from the server arrangement to the user; and   offering the user an ability to submit an alternate future payment request according to the acceptable set of payment alteration options when the future payment request is unacceptable;   wherein processing the future payment request at the server arrangement comprises comparing the future payment request against rules available to the server arrangement established for the party owed money by the user, and when such comparing indicates the future payment request is unacceptable, providing the denial of the future payment request.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the processing at the server arrangement comprises determining the acceptability of receiving a future payment from any user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the user comprises a debtor and payments owed comprise a debt owed by the debtor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising processing the future payment request according to rules established by a credit entity having rights to the debt. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the rules consider the user's ability to satisfy the future payment request. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising generating and presenting to the user at least one payment option representing an approved future payment transaction. 
     
     
         13 . A method for facilitating a user's future payment transaction, comprising:
 enabling the user to submit a future payment request to a server arrangement, wherein the future payment request comprises a request to make at least one immediate payment, wherein the user is provided with an ability to submit the future payment request for an out-of-sequence scheduled payment without submitting a corresponding payment request for an in-sequence scheduled payment using an acceptable set of payment alteration options approved by a party owed money by the user;   processing said future payment request at the server arrangement and, when acceptable, providing a decision comprising approval of the future payment request, and when unacceptable, providing the decision comprising denial of the future payment request;   transmitting the decision from the server arrangement to the user; and   offering the user an ability to submit an alternate future payment request according to the acceptable set of payment alteration options when the future payment request is unacceptable;   wherein processing the future payment request at the server arrangement comprises comparing the future payment request against rules available to the server arrangement established for a party owed money by the user, and when such comparing indicates the future payment request is unacceptable, providing the denial of the future payment request.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the processing at the server arrangement comprises determining the acceptability of receiving a future payment from any user. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the user comprises a debtor and payments owed comprise a debt owed by the debtor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising processing the future payment request according to rules established by a credit entity having rights to the debt. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the rules consider the user's ability to satisfy the future payment request. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising generating and presenting to the user at least one payment option representing an approved future payment transaction.