Method of Facilitating the Marketing, Redemption, and Reimbursement of Prepaid Services in a Service Network

Abstract

A computer-assisted method of facilitating the marketing, redemption, and reimbursement of prepaid services in a service network.

1 . A computer-assisted method of facilitating the marketing, redemption, and reimbursement of prepaid services in a service network, comprising:
 storing data associated with participants in at least one database;   advertising the service network to consumers;   storing data associated with the consumers in accounts in the at least one database;   receiving prepaid fees from the consumers in exchange for services to be rendered by the participants and crediting the accounts accordingly;   issuing voucher data to the consumers for redemption at the participants for the services;   associating the voucher data with the stored data and storing the voucher data in the at least one database;   using the voucher data to authorize performance of at least some of the services when the consumers redeem their voucher data;   debiting the accounts based on the performance of the at least some of the services;   receiving receipt data from the participants for the performance of the at least some of the services, wherein the receipt data includes authorization data from the consumers; and   reimbursing the participants for the rendered services.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 1 , wherein the prepaid fees are discounted. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 1 , wherein the voucher data are provided in the form of a bar-coded voucher. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving participant fees from the participants in exchange for participation in the service network. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 4 , wherein the advertising is funded using at least a portion of the participant fees. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving prepaid fees is carried out using a third party enabler. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of using the voucher data includes scanning bar-coded vouchers. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of using the voucher data includes presenting consumers with a keypad input device to allow consumers to enter their PIN's. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving receipt data includes receiving signatures. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 refunding prepaid services fees to requesting members.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of refunding may be handled using a third party enabler. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 initiating an estimate for additional services other than the prepaid services.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 screening participants for participation in the service network; and   accepting participants in the service network.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 enrolling at least some of the consumers as members of the service network.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-assisted method of facilitating the marketing, redemption, and reimbursement of prepaid services in a service network, comprising:
 storing data associated with participant service providers in at least one database;   advertising the service network to consumers;   enrolling at least some of the consumers as members of the service network;   storing membership data associated with the members in member accounts in the at least one database;   receiving, via a third party enabler, prepaid service fees from the members in exchange for services to be rendered by the participant service providers and crediting the member accounts accordingly;   issuing voucher data in the form of a voucher having machine readable code to the members for redemption at the participant service providers for the services;   associating the voucher data with the membership data and storing the voucher data in the at least one database;   using the voucher to verify membership of the members and authorize performance of at least some of the services when the members redeem their voucher;   debiting the member accounts based on the performance of the at least some of the services;   receiving receipt data from the participant service providers for the performance of the at least some of the services, wherein the receipt data includes authorization data from the members; and   reimbursing the participant service providers for the rendered services.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 screening service providers for participation in the service network; and   accepting at least some of the service providers as participant service providers in the service network.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving participant fees from the participant service providers in exchange for participation in the service network.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 17 , wherein the advertising is funded using at least a portion of the participant fees. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-assisted method of  claim 15 , wherein the prepaid fees are discounted. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-assisted method of facilitating the marketing, redemption, and reimbursement of discounted prepaid services in a service network, comprising:
 screening service providers for participation in the service network;   accepting at least some of the service providers as participant service providers in the service network;   storing data associated with the participant service providers in at least one database;   receiving participant fees from the participant service providers in exchange for participation in the service network;   advertising the service network to consumers;   enrolling at least some of the consumers as members of the service network;   storing membership data associated with the members in member accounts in the at least one database;   receiving, via a third party enabler, prepaid service fees from the members in exchange for services to be rendered by the participant service providers and crediting the member accounts accordingly;   issuing voucher data in the form of a voucher having machine readable code to the members for redemption at the participant service providers for the services;   associating the voucher data with the membership data and storing the voucher data in the at least one database;   using the voucher to verify membership of the members and authorize performance of at least some of the services when the members redeem their voucher;   debiting the member accounts based on the performance of the at least some of the services;   receiving receipt data from the participant service providers for the performance of the at least some of the services, wherein the receipt data includes authorization data from the members; and   reimbursing the participant service providers for the rendered services.