Methods for processing a group of accounts corresponding to different products

Abstract

Processing a group of accounts corresponding to different products. A group of accounts are linked together to create a group so that group processing can be performed at the group level while independent processing of the accounts is performed at the account level. Typically, a group includes a key account and one or more dependent accounts. The relationships between the accounts and the group are flexible to accommodate changes in the status of the group cardholders. Group level processing includes authorizing transactions, applying group payments, creating group statements, creating cardholder communications, and administering reward programs. Each dependent account has an associated dependent strategy that specifies group level processing options for the dependent account.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This U.S. patent application relates to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 083,004 entitled “Methods and System for a Family Financial Services Card,” filed Apr. 24, 1998. The present application and the related U.S. provisional patent application are commonly assigned to First Data Corporation. [0002] This U.S. patent application also relates to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ entitled “Method for Linking Accounts Corresponding to Different Products Together to Create a Group,” filed concurrently herewith (Attorney Docket No. 06042-0110) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ entitled “Method for Defining a Relationship Between an Account and a Group,” filed concurrently herewith (Attorney Docket No. 06042-0150). The present application and the related pending applications are commonly assigned to First Data Corporation.TECHNICAL FIELD [0003] This invention relates in general to a method for processing accounts corresponding to ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028] The relationship between each account in the group is flexible and can be modified. A group can contain some dependent accounts which process as completely subordinate accounts with no direct communication to the dependent cardholder and other dependent accounts which process as secondary or joint owners of the group with full disclosure of all group activity. Each defined dependent strategy can be used to define the relationship of any number of accounts to any number of groups. Also, each

Problems solved by technology

A disadvantage of providing the child with an additional card on an existing account is that the child has access to the entire credit line of the account.

A disadvantage of providing the child with a card on an account where the child is the primary user and the parent is the responsible party is that the parent's access to credit may be reduced.

If the parent also has another account, then the credit line given to the child is not available to the parent even if the child is not currently using it because the accounts are unrelated.

A disadvantage of providing the child with a secured card by providing collateral for the account is that the collateral is committed to secure the account regardless of the amount of activity on the account.

As a result of these market realities, issuers are faced with a challenge to manage an individual's whole relationship with them while offering the flexibility consumers desire in their product options.

This option also provides almost no

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