System for resolving claims

Abstract

An apparatus for resolving a claim owed is provided. The apparatus includes a server arrangement comprising means for transmitting a communication to a claimant using one of a number of available communication channels inviting the claimant to contact the server arrangement, an information seeking module configured to obtain claimant financial information in response, and a rules based decision module configured to employ only extracted data identified as pertinent to the claimant from obtained claimant financial information, the extracted data extracted in accordance with rules established by a party responsible for satisfying the claim available to the rules based decision module, and analyze the extracted data to determine a potential resolution strategy for the claim comprising a plurality of individualized claim settlement offers determined specifically for the debtor based on the extracted data identified as pertinent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for resolving a claim owed, the apparatus comprising:
 a server arrangement comprising:
 means for transmitting a communication to a claimant using one of a number of available communication channels inviting the claimant to contact the server arrangement for the purpose of attempting to settle the claim; 
 an information seeking module configured to obtain claimant financial information from a source other than the server arrangement and the claimant in response to the claimant contacting the server arrangement; 
 a rules based decision module configured to employ only extracted data identified as pertinent to the claimant from obtained claimant financial information, the extracted data extracted in accordance with rules established by a party responsible for satisfying the claim available to the rules based decision module, and analyze the extracted data in order to determine a potential resolution strategy for the claim comprising a plurality of individualized claim settlement offers determined specifically for the debtor based on the extracted data identified as pertinent; and 
   a memory configured to maintain information related to the claim and the rules employed by the rules based decision module;   wherein the server arrangement is configured to offer the claimant a plurality of claim settlement options determined specifically for the claimant determined based on the extracted data, and the server arrangement is further configured to attempt to obtain agreement from the claimant to settle the claim.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said information seeking module seeks at least one of previous claim settlement offers made, financial information about the claimant, severity of a cause for the claim, and history of claims paid for similar claims. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the server arrangement further comprises a parsing module configured to receive claimant financial information and parse pertinent information from the claimant financial information to produce the extracted data. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the server arrangement further comprises a payment processing module configured to process at least a portion of a payment once the claimant agrees to settle the claim. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the server arrangement further comprises a portfolio management module configured to manage a portfolio comprising a plurality of claims based on actions taken by multiple users and aspects associated with the portfolio. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the decision module relies on at least one dictionary employed to translate received information into information used within the server arrangement. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the server arrangement is further configured to provide a claim settlement offer set comprising at least two simultaneously presented selectable monetary offers of settlement formed according to the rules. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the available communication channel comprises one of:
 a telephone communication channel;   a mail communication channel; and   an electronic communication channel.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for resolving a claim owed, comprising:
 a server arrangement comprising:
 a claimant financial information seeking module configured to obtain claimant financial information from a financial information source other than the server arrangement and the claimant in response to the claimant contacting the server arrangement; 
 a decision module configured to:
 employ only extracted data identified as pertinent from obtained claimant financial information, the extracted data extracted in accordance with a set of rules established by an insurer; and 
 process the extracted data identified as pertinent to determine a potential resolution strategy for the claim owed; and 
 
 means for contacting the claimant by transmitting a communication to the claimant inviting the claimant to contact the server arrangement for the purpose of resolving the claim owed using one of a number of available communication channels; and 
   a memory configured to maintain information related to the claim owed and the set of rules established by the insurer;   wherein the server arrangement is configured to offer the claimant a plurality of claim settlement options determined specifically for the claimant determined based on the extracted data.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said claimant financial information seeking module seeks personal financial information from a credit bureau by obtaining a credit report for the claimant from the credit bureau. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the server arrangement further comprises a parsing module configured to receive claimant financial account information and parse pertinent information from the claimant financial account information to produce the extracted data. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the server arrangement further comprises a payment processing module configured to process at least a portion of a payment. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the server arrangement further comprises a portfolio management module configured to manage a portfolio comprising a plurality of claims owed based on actions taken by multiple users and aspects associated with the portfolio. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the decision module relies on at least one dictionary employed to translate received information into information used within the server arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the server arrangement is further configured to provide a transaction settlement offer set comprising at least two simultaneously presented selectable monetary claim settlement offers formed according to the rules. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the server arrangement is further configured to provide the transaction settlement offer set with an incentive to the debtor to resolve the claim owed. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the server arrangement is further configured to provide an alternative settlement offer set that differs from the transaction settlement offer set. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the available communication channel comprises one of:
 a telephone communication channel;   a mail communication channel; and   an electronic communication channel.   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for resolving a claim, comprising:
 a server arrangement comprising:
 a communications module configured to transmit, using one of a number of available communication channels, a communication inviting a claimant to contact the server arrangement for the purpose of attempting to resolve the claim; 
 a credit information seeking module configured to obtain credit information for the claimant in response to the claimant contacting the server arrangement; and 
 a rules based engine configured to employ only extracted data identified as pertinent from obtained claimant account information, the extracted data extracted in accordance with rules established by an insurer, and determine a plurality of individualized transaction settlement offers determined specifically for the claimant depending on financial status of the claimant; and 
   a memory configured to maintain information related to the claim owed and the rules employed by the rules based engine;   wherein the server arrangement is configured to provide the plurality of individualized transaction settlement offers to direct the claimant to a resolution of the claim owed based on the rules and the credit information for the claimant.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the credit information seeking module seeks personal credit information from a credit bureau by obtaining a credit report of the claimant from the credit bureau.