Method and apparatus for processing credit card transactions

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed whereby credit and debit card transactions are processed at a merchant point-of-sale terminal in a manner that provides customers the opportunity to receive one or more charge enhancement offers which are presented to the customer on a record of charge.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions that when executed by the processor direct the processor to:
 receive a request for authorization of a purchase amount, the purchase amount to be paid from a financial account of the customer; 
 determine an offer based on the received request; 
 transmit an authorization of the purchase amount; 
 transmit the offer for output to the customer on a record of charge; 
 receive an acceptance of the offer by the customer; and 
 provide a benefit to the customer after receiving the acceptance,
 wherein the offer defines an obligation for the customer to fulfill in exchange for the benefit. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the record of charge includes a first signature line associated with and for indicating acceptance of the purchase amount only. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the record of charge includes a second signature line associated with and for indicating acceptance of the offer output on the record of charge. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , the storage device storing instructions that when executed by the processor direct the processor further to:
 determine that the customer has signed the second signature line of the record.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the offer is a cross-subsidy offer and in which the benefit comprises a discount toward the purchase amount. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the offer is selected from the group consisting of:
 a supplemental product offer for the obligation of an additional payment in addition to the purchase amount to be provided by the customer in exchanged for a supplemental product, and   a cross-subsidy offer for providing a discount toward the purchase amount in exchange for the obligation of the customer accepting an offer of a third party other than the customer and the merchant.